What happened
Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran began, straining airline profitability. In response, major carriers are reducing capacity: Delta Air Lines is cutting approximately 3.5% of its schedule, while Lufthansa has announced the cancellation of 20,000 short-haul flights this summer. Airlines for Europe notes that while outright shortages are not expected this summer, high costs and restrictive market conditions may lead to further cuts in fall and winter. For frequent fliers, this means higher risk of cancellations and fewer seats. Key protections remain: U.S. airlines must provide full refunds for canceled domestic/international flights; EU261/UK261 rules apply to cancellations in/from the EU/UK, and high fuel costs do not count as "extraordinary circumstances," meaning passengers may still be entitled to compensation