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Germany's flag carrier Lufthansa Group has announced a calibrated optimisation of its summer flight schedule across its six major hubs, citing a volatile operating environment marked by surging fuel costs and geopolitical uncertainty, according to an official press release.The airline said capacity will be marginally reduced, by less than one percent in available seat kilometres, through the cancellation of unprofitable routes, particularly at its Frankfurt and Munich hubs, while selectively expanding services in Zurich, Vienna and Brussels as part of a network rebalancing strategy. The move comes against the backdrop of a sharp escalation in crude oil prices triggered by the ongoing West Asia crisis, which has significantly inflated jet fuel costs for global carriers.
Disruptions linked to the conflict, including constraints around key supply routes, have pushed Brent crude above $100 per barrel and driven jet fuel prices sharply higher, forcing airlines worldwide to reassess capacity and pricing strategies. Fuel accounts for up to one-third of airline operating expenses, making carriers particularly vulnerable to oil price volatility.The airline, in its statement, emphasised that the optimisation exercise is aimed at maintaining efficiency amid "short-term changes and market fluctuations," with flexibility to cancel routes or redeploy aircraft depending on demand patterns and cost dynamics. Industry-wide, several carriers in Europe and beyond have already announced capacity cuts, grounding of older aircraft, and route rationalisation as the fuel crisis deepens. Lufthansa itself has reportedly scaled back flights and retired less efficient aircraft in a bid to conserve fuel and contain costs. The West Asia crisis has disrupted global oil supply chains, particularly via the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for energy shipments, thereby exacerbating supply constraints and driving up prices. Despite these headwinds, Lufthansa said demand for travel remains robust for the summer season, although higher ticket prices linked to fuel costs could temper growth going forward. The airline added that it continues to monitor developments closely and will adjust its network dynamically in response to evolving market conditions. (ANI)
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