Lufthansa axes 20,000 summer flights

German carrier Lufthansa is removing 20,000 flights from its European summer schedule to save approximately 40,000 metric tonnes of expensive jet fuel.

The airline blamed the move on the global energy shock triggered by the conflict in the Middle East, which has seen jet fuel prices double in some regions.

Major UK airlines including British Airways, easyJet, and TUI have echoed these concerns, warning the government that flight routes may become unviable without emergency policy changes.

Passengers are being warned to expect higher fares and potential last-minute cancellations throughout the peak travel season.