Several airlines have cancelled the flights. (Image: Getty)
Airlines across the globe have been cancelling flights as they grapple with a severe jet‑fuel crunch marked by soaring prices and tight supply. In just a short time frame since the war in Iran began, fuel costs have skyrocketed – jumping from roughly $85–$90 per barrel to as high as $120.
With fuel suddenly far more expensive and harder to secure, many carriers have been forced to scale back routes, park aircraft, and introduce surcharges to offset the financial pressure. Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, said that the flight cancellations will begin “soon” if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed amid the Iran war, potentially plunging summer holidays into chaos.
Read more: KLM issues message to all passengers with holidays booked from May
Read more: Easyjet issues 3-week fuel shortage countdown
Full list of airlines:
Aegean Airlines – The Greek airlines believes that the suspended Middle East flights and a spike in fuel prices may have a “notable impact” on its first-quarter results.
AirAsia X – The airline’s executives said they have reduced the number of flights across the group by 10% and introduced a general fuel surcharge of about 20%.
Air France-KLM – According to the airlines, it is planning to raise the long-haul ticket prices amid the rising fuel costs, with the prices likely to rise by 50 euros ($58) per round trip.
Air India – The airline services may revise its fuel surcharge from a flat domestic surcharge to a distance-based grid, reports Independent.
Air New Zealand – On April 7, the airline announced that it would cut back flights throughout May and June and raise ticket prices, noting it had been among the first carriers to introduce widespread fare increases when the conflict began.
American Airlines – The US airline said it will raise checked‑bag fees, adding $10 (£7.3) more for the first and second bags and $150 (£110)more for a third checked bag on domestic and short‑haul international flights.
BA said in March it had no immediate plans to raise fares after hedging much of its fuel costs. (Image: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA/Shutterstock)
Airline Operators of Nigeria – Nigerian airlines have planned a nationwide shutdown of its services after a government appeal to halt the action pending talks, the airlines said over the weekend.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) – an industry body with mainly domestic carriers – had recently issued warning that they will stop the services from April 20 (Monday), adding that the soaring jet fuel prices have made the operations unsustainable.
The AON further said that the step was taken after an appeal from Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who called for restraint and dialogue.
Alaska Air – The US airline said that it may increase the charges for the first checked bag by $5 and by $10 for the second on its North American flights, as well as for its Hawaiian Airlines unit. It hiked prices for a third checked bag from $50 to $200, reports Independent.
Asiana Airlines – The airline will reduce 22 flights between April and July due to the fuel cost increase, Newsis reported.
Cathay Pacific – The Hong Kong carrier said it will trim its schedule from mid‑May to the end of June, cancelling around 2% of its passenger flights, while its budget arm HK Express will cut about 6%. The airline has also raised its fuel surcharge by 34% on all routes from 1 April and plans to review the rate every two weeks.
easyJet has warned fares could rise later this summer as fuel hedges begin to unwind. (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
Cebu Air – The Philippines-based airline said that it would continue to review its pricing and network strategies to mitigate the impact.
China Eastern Airlines – The airline said it will increase fuel surcharges on domestic routes starting 5 April, adding 60 yuan ($9) for flights of 800 km or less and 120 yuan for flights over 800 km.
Delta Airlines – The airline said it would cut planned capacity growth and raise checked bag fees to offset soaring jet fuel costs. First and second checked bags will increase by $10, while a third bag will cost $50 more.
The airline has scrapped all planned growth for the current quarter and warned profits will be lower than Wall Street expected. Delta’s CEO said the company would not update its full-year outlook because of uncertainty over fuel prices.
EasyJet – easyJet warned its half-year pre-tax loss could reach £540m to £560m, including an extra £25m in fuel costs in March.
Chief executive Kenton Jarvis has also warned passengers could face higher ticket prices later in the summer when existing fuel hedges expire.
Frontier Airlines – Reviewing its full-year outlook after fuel costs surged.
Greater Bay Airlines – Greater Bay Airlines said it will raise fuel surcharges on most routes from April 1, although charges on mainland China and Japan flights will stay the same.
The airline said surcharges on flights between Hong Kong and the Philippines will more than double.
Hong Kong Airlines – Increasing fuel surcharges by up to 35%, with the biggest rises on Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal routes.
International Airlines Group – The airline said it does not plan to raise British Airways fares immediately because much of its fuel is hedged.
IndiGo – Adding fuel charges, including 900 rupees for Middle East flights and 2,300 rupees for Europe routes. Sources told Reuters the company is also urging the Indian government to cut fuel taxes.
JetBlue Airways – Raising baggage fees by up to $9 as costs rise, while insisting it will avoid bankruptcy this year, according to Reuters.
Korean Air – Entering emergency management mode, according to Reuters, and stepping up cost-cutting measures
Lufthansa – Grounding 27 planes early and cutting more aircraft from its fleet.
Virgin Atlantic has added fuel surcharges to fares (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Nigerian airlines – Warned flights could be halted from April 20 unless fuel prices fall.
Norse Atlantic Airways – Axed its London Gatwick to Los Angeles route because of fuel costs.
Pakistan International Airlines – Raising domestic fares by $20 and international fares by up to $100.
Qantas Airways – Delayed a A$150m buyback and lifted its fuel bill forecast to as much as A$3.3bn.
SAS – Will cancel 1,000 flights in April after already hiking fares.
Spring Airlines – The airline will raise domestic fuel surcharges from April 5.
Read more: Jet2 tells passengers ‘we will be in touch’ in message about holiday bookings
Southwest Airlines – Hiking baggage fees to $45 for a first bag and $55 for a second.
SunExpress – The airline will add a temporary 10-euro fuel surcharge on Turkey-Europe routes.
TAP Air Portugal – Said fare rises would soften the blow from higher fuel prices.
Thai Airways – Increasing fares by up to 15%.
Turkish Airlines – Decided not to pay a dividend in order to preserve cash.
T’way Air – Plans to furlough some cabin crew without pay in May and June
United Airlines – United Airlines is scaling back loss-making routes over the next six months as it braces for oil prices to stay above $100 a barrel until the end of 2027, according to chief executive Scott Kirby.
The airline has also been able to push up fares without seeing a major impact on bookings, chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella said, despite the sharp rise in oil and jet fuel costs.
United is also increasing first and second checked baggage fees by $10 for customers travelling within the US, Mexico, Canada and Latin America, according to Reuters.
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VietJet Air – Cut flights on some routes because of fuel shortages.
Vietnam Airlines – plans to cancel 23 domestic flights a week from April. The airline reportedly requested government assistance to remove an environmental tax on jet fuel.
Virgin Atlantic – Adding fuel surcharges but still expects a tough year, CEO Corneel Koster told the Financial Times.
Virgin Australia – expects fuel costs to rise by up to A$40m, with a 1% reduction in capacity in the fourth quarter.
Volotea – Introduced a pricing policy that could add fuel surcharges of up to 14 euros per passenger.
WestJet – Cutting seats, combining flights and adding a C$60 fuel surcharge on some bookings, according to the Canadian press
