13,000 Flights Cancelled, Ticket Prices Skyrocket
The rise in oil prices is creating turmoil in various industries, including aviation. Several global airlines have collectively cut around 13,000 flights during May 2026.
This is due to the surge in aviation turbine fuel (avtur) prices, which is continuously burdening flight operations amid a fuel crisis sparked by the Iran conflict.
According to Euro News, data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that global airlines have slashed nearly two million flight seats in just the last two weeks of April. The number of available seats in May has dropped from 132 million to 130 million.
This reduction is expected to have a significant impact on passengers, particularly families planning to travel during the half-term holidays in the UK and several European countries at the end of May. Several major European airlines that have begun cancelling flights include Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, and KLM.
In addition to cancelling flights, many airlines are also replacing aircraft with smaller models to save fuel. Lufthansa is one of the most affected carriers. The German airline has cut around 20,000 short-haul routes from its summer schedule.
The spike in avtur prices itself was triggered by the Iran conflict that has been ongoing since February. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is said to have disrupted about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, causing jet fuel prices to more than double.
As a result, many global airlines are raising ticket prices on popular routes, halting flights on less popular routes, and operating smaller aircraft to reduce fuel consumption.
The UK government has even begun taking emergency measures. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced that rules on using flight slots at UK airports will be temporarily suspended. This means airlines like British Airways can reduce their flight schedules without fear of losing their airport slots to competitors.
Amid the ongoing spring and summer holiday season, passengers are also at risk of sudden schedule changes. In some cases, passengers whose flights are not cancelled may be moved to other flights on different days, potentially shortening the duration of their holidays.