KLM to cancel more than 100 flights due to fuel crisis caused by war in Iran
A major European airline is canceling more than 100 flights, including services to and from London, due to rising fuel costs linked to the war in Iran.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the flag carrier of the Netherlands, will cancel 160 flights over the next month, split evenly between departures and arrivals at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The airline said it is not facing a shortage of jet fuel, but made the decision as a cost containment measure due to rising fuel prices.
“Passengers affected by these changes will be rebooked on the next available flight. As these are destinations that KLM serves several times a day, such as London and Düsseldorf, travelers can usually be accommodated quickly,” the airline said.
“KLM is expecting a very busy May holiday period and is ensuring that passengers can travel to their holiday destinations as planned.”
The cancellations represent about one percent of KLM’s European programming.
It comes as airlines across Europe cancel routes to manage higher operating costs.
Earlier this month, British airline Skybus, which operated daily flights between London Gatwick and Newquay, canceled all future flights due to rising fuel prices and a drop in passenger numbers.
Skybus had operated the flights from November 2025 under a Public Service Obligation funded by Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport, which was scheduled to run until May 31. The airline’s last services took place on April 2.
Skybus CEO Jonathan Hinkles said at the time: “The huge increase in global fuel costs following the conflict in the Gulf, together with a significant drop in new passenger bookings since the announcement in mid-February of the planned closure of the PSO air route, forms an insurmountable barrier to the service continuing through April and May.
“At a time of great economic uncertainty and measures being taken to conserve energy around the world, it is not environmentally or economically sensible for us to continue flying with very reduced passenger numbers.”
