European flights are being cut back amid the current aviation crisis
KLM is canceling dozens of European flights due to a sharp rise in jet fuel prices, which has made some routes unprofitable. The cuts will affect popular destinations in Europe, including flights to London and Düsseldorf, and will begin as early as late April. The company explains that this is part of a schedule optimization effort to avoid financial losses and maintain flight availability, according to NOS.
KLM announced the cancellation of about eighty round-trip flights within Europe, which operate several times a day. This primarily concerns short routes where flights have ceased to be profitable due to the sharp rise in aviation fuel prices.
The company explained that some flights are simply no longer economically viable, even despite stable demand. To mitigate the impact, KLM has already introduced a fuel surcharge—€100 for long-haul flights and €10 for European flights.
The first cancellations are scheduled for the last week of April, which coincides with the May holidays, when passenger traffic traditionally increases. Company representatives emphasize that these are primarily underbooked flights, which can be relatively easily rebooked so that passengers do not lose the opportunity to reach their destination on the same day.
The rise in aviation fuel costs is linked to instability in the Middle East, which has affected kerosene supplies to Europe. As a result, jet fuel prices began to rise rapidly, and the market became more strained.
Although KLM claims there is no direct shortage, international energy analysts are warning of risks. In particular, the International Energy Agency notes that jet fuel reserves in Europe may last only a few weeks, and industry experts do not rule out the emergence of a structural shortage if the supply situation does not stabilize.
Additional pressure on the market is being created by declining inventories at major European ports, particularly in the Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Antwerp regions, where fuel volumes have already decreased significantly. Experts note that the rate of this decline is unusually high, and although there is no critical shortage yet, the risk of one emerging grows with each passing week.
Additionally, the Latvian Parliament approved a short-term loan for the national airline Air Baltic to help it overcome financial difficulties caused by rising fuel prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.
