Fuel Crisis Hits Aviation: SAS and Air New Zealand Cancel Thousands of Flights
Rapidly rising global jet fuel prices have begun directly impacting operational planning across the aviation sector. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Air New Zealand have announced the cancellation of thousands of flights due to mounting cost pressures.
Scandinavian Airlines stated that it will cancel approximately 1,000 flights in April 2026. The airline had already canceled hundreds of services in March, with most of the disruptions concentrated on short-haul routes within Scandinavia.
Under normal circumstances, SAS operates around 800 flights per day. The airline said the decision is aimed at balancing costs, with reductions primarily focused on routes where alternative transportation options are available.
Similarly, Air New Zealand has scaled back operations due to higher fuel prices. The carrier announced it will cancel 1,100 flights through May, representing roughly 5% of its total scheduled services. The decision is expected to affect approximately 44,000 passengers.
Global jet fuel prices have nearly doubled in a short period due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and disruptions in energy supply. The situation is pushing airlines to reduce capacity and consider fare increases.
