Fuel Crisis: Aircraft Grounded

Lufthansa has grounded 31 aircraft due to a jet fuel shortage triggered by the Iran war, becoming the first major European carrier to take such action amid rising fuel costs and supply disruptions.

The grounding, which took effect on April 16, 2026, includes 27 regional jets operated by Lufthansa’s CityLine subsidiary and four older mainline aircraft. The airline cited the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies — as the primary cause of the fuel crisis.

According to the International Energy Agency, Europe may have only six weeks of jet fuel remaining if supplies from the Strait of Hormuz remain disrupted. Jet fuel prices in Europe have more than doubled since the beginning of the conflict on February 28, 2026, prompting airlines to cut less profitable routes and ground older, less efficient aircraft.

Lufthansa’s decision to ground its CityLine fleet comes despite prior plans to retire the aircraft in 2024. The current crisis has accelerated that timeline, with CFO Till Streichert stating that the move is “unavoidable in light of the sharply increased kerosene costs and geopolitical instability.” The airline will also withdraw its last four Airbus A340-600s and two Boeing 747-400s from long-haul service by October 2026 as part of broader capacity reductions.

The grounding is expected to result in flight cancellations across European regional routes and some long-haul services during the peak summer travel season. Passengers on affected flights may face rebooking delays of two to five days or be required to transfer to competing carriers at higher fares.

Other airlines are also responding to the crisis. KLM announced it will operate 80 fewer return flights to and from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in May, while Nigerian carriers warned they may cease all operations by April 21 unless fuel prices decline. Fuel prices in Nigeria have surged 270% since late February.

The disruption stems from the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, and led to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Although a two-week ceasefire was observed, it did not restore fuel supplies, as refineries require weeks to repair war-related damage and resume normal output.

Although an actual shortage of jet fuel has yet to materialize, the high cost of the fuel is prompting airline groups to cut less profitable routes and ground less efficient older aircraft.

Politico.eu