Lufthansa cancels 20,000 short‑haul flights

Lufthansa Group is cutting 20,000 short-haul flights from its summer schedule through October across its European network. (lufthansagroup.com) The company said the reductions span its six hubs: Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels and Rome. It said the cuts are aimed at short-haul flights that have become unprofitable. (lufthansagroup.com) (euronews.com) Lufthansa said the canceled flying would save about 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel through October. The group said jet fuel prices have doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict. (lufthansagroup.com) (apnews.com) The cuts reach beyond Lufthansa’s mainline brand because the group also includes SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways. The company said it is consolidating its European network while keeping fuel supply secured for the coming weeks. (euronews.com) (lufthansagroup.com) The announcement lands as airlines across Europe and beyond are recalculating schedules around higher fuel bills and supply concerns. Associated Press reported Lufthansa tied the move to the Iran war’s effect on oil prices and fears that some countries could run low on jet fuel. (apnews.com) Politico reported the decision followed Lufthansa’s move to retire the 27-aircraft fleet of its CityLine subsidiary ahead of schedule. Yahoo Finance, citing the company, said the CityLine closure was part of the backdrop to the short-haul cuts. (politico.eu) (finance.yahoo.com) Passengers on affected routes are being notified and offered alternative travel dates, according to coverage citing the airline. The reductions are scheduled to run through October, covering the peak summer travel period in Europe. (jpost.com) (lufthansagroup.com) For travelers, the immediate change is simpler: fewer short-haul seats on Lufthansa Group airlines this summer, especially on feeder routes through its main hubs. (lufthansagroup.com) (visahq.com)