Lufthansa to Ground 27 Regional Aircraft Starting April 18 Amid Rising Fuel Costs and Strikes

Gate News message, April 16 — German airline group Lufthansa announced it will ground 27 aging regional aircraft operated by Lufthansa CityLine beginning April 18 and cease all operations of the subsidiary by year-end to reduce losses. The decision comes amid rising aviation fuel costs and ongoing labor strikes across Europe's aviation sector.

The move is part of a broader industry crisis triggered by geopolitical tensions. U.S.-Israel military operations against Iran have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up fuel costs and disrupting European flight routes. On April 11, the International Air Transport Association's European regional director warned European Union officials that if the strait cannot be restored to "significant and stable" transit within three weeks, the EU will face "systemic" aviation fuel shortages that could severely disrupt air transport operations and damage Europe's economy.