BERLIN, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Germany's Lufthansa said Tuesday it will cancel 20,000 short-haul flights through October as kerosene prices surge.
The airline said the move is expected to save about 40,000 tonnes of fuel after prices doubled following the outbreak of the war in Iran.
In a statement, Lufthansa said the schedule adjustments would reduce the number of "unprofitable short-haul flights" across the group's network.
The company added that the first wave of cancellations, affecting 120 flights per day, took effect on Monday and will remain in place through the end of May.
The decision follows Lufthansa's April 16 announcement that it would permanently withdraw 27 operational aircraft from its Lufthansa CityLine unit starting April 18. The airline cited strike-related disruption and surging fuel costs amid tensions in the Middle East, as it seeks to limit further losses at the loss-making carrier.
The moves come amid growing concern in Europe over fuel supply risks linked to the conflict in the Middle East. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned last Thursday that Europe could have only about six weeks of jet fuel remaining if current supply disruptions continue. ■
