Lufthansa is preparing for refuelling stops on flights as airport are experiencing jet fuel shortages linked to the ongoing Iran conflict.
The airline recently faced disruption when a Cape Town‑bound Boeing 787, which can carry up to 290 passengers, was unable to refuel on arrival in South Africa and was forced to divert around 900 miles to Windhoek, Namibia, before continuing its journey.
Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr said the airline is drawing up contingency plans in case shortages become more widespread.
“If you cannot reach your target airport with the fuel that you’ve got then you have to do refuelling stops and we are not there yet, but we are preparing for this,” he said.
Lufthansa has already removed 20,000 short‑haul flights from its summer schedule as kerosene prices more than double following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The airline is also retiring older aircraft, pausing recruitment for non‑flying roles and reviewing spending plans.
Mr Spohr said there are currently no immediate supply bottlenecks, but warned that availability can only be guaranteed for the next six weeks, making planning beyond mid‑June difficult.
“Structural changes might have to be expanded if fuel prices stay so high,” he said.
Jet fuel shortages hit global airports as Lufthansa warns of disruption risk
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“High prices lead to higher costs and where we cannot recover those we have to reduce capacity.”
Lufthansa has urged European regulators to ease restrictions on fuel types to improve supply.
Mr Spohr called on Brussels to allow the use of Jet A kerosene, standard in the United States but typically not permitted at European airports, noting that its higher freezing point is less significant during warmer months and that it is already used on some transatlantic return flights.
The airline is also seeking changes to rules on fuel tankering, where aircraft carry enough fuel for both outbound and return journeys.
Despite hedging more than 80 per cent of its fuel needs, Lufthansa expects its annual fuel bill to rise by €1.7billion, around £1.5billion
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Mr Spohr welcomed the UK Government’s decision to suspend “use it or lose it” slot rules and said similar measures should be introduced across the EU.
The wider travel sector is preparing for potential disruption, with holiday firm On the Beach confirming it will offer same‑day refunds for cancelled flights.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said there is currently no fuel shortage affecting UK airlines.
“We continue to work with fuel suppliers, airports, airlines and international counterparts to keep flights operating,” a spokesman said.