Europe's largest airline is cutting flights due to the fuel crisis.

Europe's largest airline, Lufthansa, announced plans to cancel approximately 20,000 flights between June and October 2026. The decision is due to the need to conserve aviation fuel amid the energy crisis caused by the situation in the Middle East, DW reports.

The company expects the flight reduction to save over 40,000 tons of fuel. Furthermore, the overall efficiency indicator, measured in available passenger kilometers, is expected to decrease by less than one percentage point.

Lufthansa explained that the optimization will be achieved by cutting unprofitable short-haul routes from Frankfurt am Main and Munich, while simultaneously expanding existing flights from Zurich, Vienna, and Brussels. The changes will also affect the airline's sixth hub, located in Rome.

The list of flights to be cancelled between June and October is scheduled to be announced at the end of April. However, cancellations have already begun: starting April 20, the company is cutting approximately 120 flights daily scheduled until May 31. Specifically, flights from Frankfurt am Main to the Polish cities of Bydgoszcz and Rzeszow, as well as to Stavanger, Norway, have been temporarily suspended.

Earlier, on April 16, Lufthansa announced the early retirement of 27 Canadair CRJ aircraft operated by its CityLine subsidiary, citing rising fuel costs and labor disputes. Plans were also announced to phase out four Airbus A340-600 and two Boeing 747-400 aircraft used on long-haul routes by October. The airline intends to reduce available passenger kilometers for its core brand during the winter.

Amid instability in the Middle East and rising energy prices, other airlines are taking similar measures. SAS Scandinavian Airlines plans to cancel approximately 1,000 flights in April, while Air France-KLM has increased its fuel surcharge on long-haul flights to €100, including for tickets already sold. Moldovan airline FlyOne also announced flight reductions.

The European Commission is expected to present a plan to resolve the energy crisis on April 22.