Jet Fuel Prices Surge, Global Airlines Cut 2 Million Seats

JAKARTA – The global aviation industry is beginning to feel serious pressure from the surge in jet fuel prices and potential supply disruptions following the conflict in the Middle East.

The latest data shows that airlines around the world are cutting capacity and adjusting operations amid rising uncertainty in energy distribution.

A report from the Asia News Network, citing the Financial Times, states that global airlines have cut around 2 million seats from their May 2026 flight schedules in the past two weeks.

This step is taken in response to the potential jet fuel supply disruptions expected to become more pronounced in the coming weeks.

Since the Iran war broke out at the end of February 2026, jet fuel prices have doubled.

The surge in jet fuel prices has become one of the main factors pressuring the aviation industry. The price of one tonne of jet fuel was recorded to rise from $831 at the end of February 2026 to a peak of $1,838 at the beginning of April 2026.

This increase has forced many airlines to raise plane ticket prices, especially for long-haul routes.

Airlines such as Air France, KLM, Air Canada, Delta, and SAS have been recorded as cutting their summer flight schedules.

In addition, the closure of several airports in the Persian Gulf region has worsened the situation. This area has handled up to a third of travel connections between Europe and Asia.

Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, stated that disruptions to these flight routes have created a major imbalance between global travel supply and demand.

Asia is the region most affected by these fuel supply disruptions. This is due to high dependence on energy supplies from the Strait of Hormuz, which is now experiencing serious disruptions due to threats of attacks from Iran and a US maritime blockade.