The cost of jet fuel has doubled since the Middle East war led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, delivering a major blow to global aviation that some experts have called an “unprecedented crisis.”
Several airlines have slashed service, including the following:
Transat:
The parent company of Montreal-based Air Transat announced a six per cent capacity cut, reducing the frequency on some routes to Europe and the Caribbean. It also extended a suspension of service to Cuba until October.
Air Canada:
Canada’s largest carrier has suspended six routes.
Domestic
- Fort McMurray, Alta. to Vancouver: route suspended effective May 28, 2026
- Yellowknife to Toronto: route suspended effective Aug. 30, 2026
International
- Guadalajara, Mexico to Montreal: route planned to launch now suspended
Transborder
- Salt Lake City to Toronto: temporary route suspension effective June 30, 2026, with plans to resume in 2027
- New York’s JFK to Toronto: temporary suspension effective June 1, 2026, with plans to resume Oct. 25, 2026
- JFK to Montreal: temporary suspension effective June 1, 2026, with plans to resume Oct. 25, 2026
WestJet:
The Calgary-based carrier is consolidating flights on lower demand routes and adjusting the summer travel offering.
Lufthansa:
The German airline is cancelling 20,000 short-haul flights in Europe, leading to jet fuel savings of more than 40,000 metric tons.
Routes that have been cancelled include:
- Frankfurt, Germany to Poland’s Bydgoszcz and Rzeszów
- Frankfurt to Stavanger, Norway
