Airlines Cancel Flights, Add Fees Amid Jet Fuel Crisis

Mo. Basuony

Published: April 20, 2026 12:47 PM ET

Airlines Cancel Flights, Add Fees Amid Jet Fuel Crisis

Global carriers are reworking schedules and fares after jet fuel prices surged. Prices jumped from roughly $85–$90 per barrel to about $150–$200 in recent weeks.

Industry outlook and warnings

The spike was linked to the escalating conflict involving Iran and operations in the Gulf. Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, warned Europe has about six weeks of jet fuel supply.

He cautioned that a closure of the Strait of Hormuz could force flight cancellations. Airlines say fuel now accounts for up to a quarter of operating costs.

Airlines’ responses

The sector is reacting with route cuts, surcharges and higher fares. The move can be summarized simply: Airlines Cancel Flights, Add Fees Amid Jet Fuel Crisis.

Capacity cuts and cancellations

KLM announced on April 16 it would cancel about 160 European flights in the coming month.
SAS has cancelled roughly 1,000 flights in April after earlier reductions in March.
Cathay Pacific will trim services from mid-May to end-June, cutting about 2% of passenger flights.
HK Express, the low-cost sibling, said it would cut around 6% of flights.
Vietnam Airlines plans to cancel 23 domestic flights per week from April.
Asiana will cut 22 flights between April and July, citing fuel cost pressure.
United Airlines will drop unprofitable services over the next two quarters.
Lufthansa will ground 27 CityLine aircraft and retire four A340-600s after summer.

Surcharges and fare adjustments

Air France-KLM plans higher long-haul fares, adding about €50 to cabin round trips.
China Eastern raised domestic fuel surcharges on April 5. Short trips face a 60 yuan fee.
IndiGo added fuel charges from March 14. Middle East routes carry a 900 rupee fee.
Akasa Air set a surcharge between 199 and 1,300 rupees for various sectors.
Virgin Atlantic introduced fuel surcharges while working to preserve profitability.
SunExpress will apply a €10 fuel surcharge per passenger for Turkey–Europe routes from May 1.
Greater Bay Airlines increased surcharges from April 1, doubling some Hong Kong–Philippines fees.

Fee increases for passengers

American Airlines raised checked-bag fees by $10 for the first two bags and $150 for the third.
Delta boosted first and second bag fees by $10 and the third by $50.
United increased first and second checked bag fees by $10 in many markets.
Alaska Airlines added $5 to the first checked bag and $10 to the second. Third-bag fees rose from $50 to $200.
Southwest raised checked-bag fees by $10, making the first bag $45 and the second $55.
JetBlue raised fees for optional services, including baggage, by $4 or $9.
WestJet added a C$60 fuel surcharge on some bookings and combined flights to cut costs.

Operational measures and government appeals

Air New Zealand announced flight reductions through May and June and paused its annual forecast on April 7.
Nigerian carriers, organized by the Airline Operators of Nigeria, paused a planned April 20 shutdown after government talks.
The AON requested service providers stop seeking upfront payments while a minister-led meeting took place on April 22.
Qantas delayed a A$150m buyback and raised its H2 2026 fuel bill estimate to A$3.1–3.3bn.
Korean Air said it would enter emergency management in April and scale measures by oil price levels.
T’Way Air plans temporary cabin crew furloughs in May and June to cut costs.
Pakistan International Airlines raised domestic fares by $20 and some international fares by up to $100.