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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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Several airlines have canceled flights and increased baggage fees amid soaring fuel costs as a result of the United Staes' ongoing war with Iran.
The war, which started when the U.S. and Israel launched joint military strikes on the country on February 28, has sent shock waves through global energy markets because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices have climbed more than 55 percent since the conflict began. Brent crude, which traded near $72 a barrel on the eve of the attacks, briefly approached $120, marking one of the largest one‑month jumps on record and has affected airlines' fuel supply.
President Donald Trump extended the U.S.-Iran ceasefire on Tuesday and instability remains.
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The fuel crisis, primarily driven by conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has led to significant flight cancellations and network adjustments. As of this month, major global hubs are seeing direct impact on short- and long-haul capacity.
What It Means for Travelers
Fuel typically accounts for 20 percent to 30 percent of an airline's operating costs. When supply drops, airlines pass these costs to consumers via "fuel surcharges." Travelers may see the base fare stay the same while taxes and fees could double, and they may see increased fees for checked bags, seat selection and even in-flight amenities. Carrying heavy catering supplies and water adds to fuel burn, so some airlines may reduce meal service or switch to lighter, pre-packaged options to shave off every possible pound of weight.
For travelers, a jet fuel shortage isn't just about a canceled flight; it is a fundamental shift in how people move around the globe. When airlines face a scarcity of fuel or astronomical price hikes, the resulting "ripple effects" move from the runway directly into the passenger's wallet and itinerary.
Because fuel is heavy, the airline may have to leave behind cargo or even bump passengers/luggage to keep the plane light enough for takeoff. Travelers can expect fewer direct flights between secondary cities as airlines are funneling passengers through major hubs to maximize fuel efficiency amid route consolidation.
To save fuel, airlines are cutting direct "point-to-point" flights. For example, instead of flying from Austin, Texas, to London, travelers might be forced to fly from Austin to Dallas before heading to London, which increases travel time and the risk of a missed connection.
On ultra-long-haul routes, such as San Francisco to Singapore, planes may need to make an unscheduled stop to refuel in a region where fuel is available, turning a 15-hour direct flight into an 18-hour multi-stop journey.
Airlines will cancel half-empty flights and consolidate those passengers onto a single aircraft. This means every flight you board will likely be at 100 percent capacity, with less overhead bin space and more crowded terminals. When a flight is canceled today, there are fewer "next available" flights because capacity has been trimmed. A cancellation that used to result in a 4-hour delay might now result in a 2-day wait for the next seat.
As smaller, low-cost carriers struggle to absorb fuel costs, some may go bankrupt or suspend routes. Fewer airlines on a route like London to New York means the remaining carriers can charge travelers significantly higher prices.
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What to Know
San Francisco is currently the worst-hit U.S. airport. On Tuesday, 544 disruptions occurred, including 69 flight cancellations, largely affecting United Airlines' transpacific and transatlantic routes. This is compounded by runway construction (1R) and wind-related traffic management.
A fuel shortage in San Francisco, for example, can cause a cancellation in New York. Because aircraft and crews are rotated through these hubs, a localized shortage creates a "rolling delay" that can strand passengers thousands of miles from the actual source of the problem.
Budget carriers like Spirit Airlines have sought emergency federal funding to offset the 129 percent spike in jet fuel prices since the end of 2025.
Delta Air Lines is cutting approximately 3.5 percent of its total network (aiming to recoup $1 billion in costs) as it does not hedge against fuel price rises.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that Europe may have only six weeks of fuel reserves left. More than 150,000 international flights were cut worldwide between March and June 2026 compared to pre-war schedules.
The EU is considering waiving "slot rules" (which usually require airlines to use a certain percentage of their take-off slots) to allow airlines to cut flights without losing their future rights to the routes.
Major carriers like British Airways and Lufthansa are reporting disruptions. While U.K. carriers have more diverse supply chains, fuel surcharges have risen sharply.
Asian carriers such as Cathay Pacific, AirAsia X and Air New Zealand have begun trimming routes and introducing heavy fuel surcharges.
Newsweek has compiled a list of airlines canceling flights amid these jet fuel shortages based on multiple reports.
Aer Lingus
The Irish airline made schedule adjustments affecting about 2 percent of flights, with some cancellations noted in recent weeks.
AirAsia X
AirAsia X said it would cut about 10 percent of flights.
Air Canada
Air Canada said Friday it will suspend services from Montreal and Toronto to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport between June 1 and October 25 because of jet fuel prices.
“As jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict and some lower‑profitability routes and flights are no longer economic, we are making schedule adjustments accordingly,” an Air Canada spokesperson said.
Air France-KLM
The airline is canceling flights and increasing fares on some routes.
Air New Zealand
The airline is reducing flights through May and June.
Asiana Airlines
Between April and July, 22 flights will but cut because of fuel prices.
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is canceling a small selection of flights from mid-May until the end of June.
Edelweiss Air
The airline in canceling some U.S. flights, including ending service to Denver and Seattle and reducing Las Vegas frequency, amid rising fuel prices.
Lufthansa
The airline is cutting 20,000 short-haul flights through October—focused on short-haul routes from Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels and Rome—to save 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel for long-haul connections, the company announced in a statement. The company said it expected "a largely stable fuel supply" for flights scheduled in the summer.
Norse Atlantic Airways
This airline has canceled its route from London Gatwick to Los Angeles.
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)
SAS will cancel 1,000 flights in April.
United Airlines
United Airlines is scaling back unprofitable flights over the next two quarters and increasing some bag fees as fuel costs rise.
"Jet fuel prices have more than doubled in the last three weeks," United CEO Scott Kirby told employees in a memo. "In the short term, that means tactically pruning flying that’s temporarily unprofitable in the face of high oil prices."
He said the airline was canceling some flights in off-peak periods and pulling other services.
"Our current plan is to restore the full schedule this fall," he said. "To be clear, nothing changes about our longer-term plans for aircraft deliveries or total capacity for 2027 and beyond, but there's no point in burning cash in the near term on flying that just can't absorb these fuel costs."
United has also seen disruptions to its Newark Liberty International operations because of delays from its San Francisco hub.
VietJet Air
The airline is cutting flights on selected routes because of potential fuel shortages.
Vietnam Airlines
The airline is planning to cancel 23 domestic flights per week beginning this month and has sought government relief on jet fuel taxes.
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