KLM cancels 160 flights due to fuel shortage

(theguardian.com)

55 points | by slow_typist 21 hours ago ago

18 comments

  • exidy 13 hours ago ago

    News outlets around the world continue to misreport this particular phenomena. Demand for air travel is highly elastic. As airlines raise prices to cover the increased cost of fuel, they are cutting capacity to ensure their load factors remain in the profitable range.

    This post links to the incorrect article. From the correct one [0]:

    > The Dutch airline said: "This concerns a limited number of flights within Europe that, due to rising kerosene costs, are currently no longer financially viable to operate. There is no kerosene shortage."

    [0] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/16/europe-supp...

  • 17 hours ago ago
    [deleted]
  • davedx 18 hours ago ago

    This really should be bigger news.

    • guidedlight 15 hours ago ago

      160 flights isn’t really that many, I suspect they are all on commercially marginal routes to begin with.

      In my region, quite a few airlines have cut routes citing the fuel crisis. Including Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand. But again, we aren’t seeing widespread cancellations yet.

  • 18 hours ago ago
    [deleted]
  • OgsyedIE 19 hours ago ago

    Given that we have the facts about what it is doing to them, can we agree that if Europe doesn't like the existing trajectory of the geopolitical system their only options are to either change it by themselves or compel one or more allies to change it?

    • yostrovs 18 hours ago ago

      There's also the third option that's usually taken: condemnation of the trajectory.

      • bayarearefugee 17 hours ago ago

        But if they do that then Donald Trump will call them a weak loser... got any other options for them?

        • booi 17 hours ago ago

          maybe UN resolution?

  • whobre 15 hours ago ago

    It is due to the high cost, not shortage.

  • ChrisArchitect 18 hours ago ago
  • cjbenedikt 19 hours ago ago

    Remember the days when airlines used to hedge their exposure to fuel prices...???

    • michael1999 18 hours ago ago

      You can't really hedge a true shortage. You'll get some money, but you can't pump money into a fuel tank.

    • davedx 18 hours ago ago

      Euro airlines hedge quite a bit actually - Ryanair is one of the most hedged airlines around. US airlines do it a lot less these days; Delta has their own refinery instead.

      Hedging won't make more jet fuel appear though

    • dnemmers 19 hours ago ago

      It looks like quite a few international airlines (most?) hedge their exposure, and some have even been increasing lately:

      https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/how-airlines-have-he...

  • wg0 21 hours ago ago

    [flagged]

    • expedition32 20 hours ago ago

      Another 3 years to go I think?

      God it already feels like a century.

      • nslsm 18 hours ago ago

        Because the next one won’t bend the knee to Israel.