In this context, Air New Zealand has announced the cancellation of 1,100 flights scheduled through early May 2026. The measure will affect around 44,000 passengers and responds to the airline’s inability to absorb the sharp increase in the cost of the fuel used by its aircraft.
The New Zealand airline has thus become one of the first examples of how the global energy crisis is beginning to directly affect air transportation. Although aviation has previously faced periods of volatility in oil prices, the current combination of geopolitical tensions, altered routes and rising fuel costs is creating an especially complex environment for airline planning.
The impact goes beyond the price of fuel alone. Conflicts and instability in certain areas are forcing airlines to modify their routes to avoid zones considered unsafe. These detours often involve longer journeys, greater fuel consumption and, in some cases, additional technical stops for refueling. All of this further increases operating costs and complicates flight scheduling.
Since the beginning of the conflict, thousands of flights have been cancelled in different regions of the world, and tens of thousands of passengers have been affected by itinerary changes or delays. According to estimates by aviation industry consultancies, more than 37,000 flights to or from the Middle East have been cancelled since the escalation of the conflict at the end of February.
In this scenario, many airlines are trying to mitigate the impact through financial strategies such as fuel hedging. These mechanisms allow companies to lock in the price of a portion of the jet fuel they will consume in the future, reducing their exposure to fluctuations in energy markets. However, not all airlines have this type of protection, making them more vulnerable to sudden increases in oil prices.
Major European carriers generally hedge a significant part of their projected fuel consumption, which provides a certain level of stability during periods of market volatility. Other airlines, particularly in some international markets, operate with lower levels of coverage and must absorb fuel price changes directly. This difference explains why some companies are experiencing the crisis more intensely than others.
The increase in jet fuel prices is also beginning to be reflected in ticket prices. Industry analysts predict that airfares could rise between 8% and 9% if oil prices remain high over the coming months. Although demand for travel remains relatively strong, rising costs are likely to be gradually passed on to consumers.
Despite the challenging context, the sector hopes the impact may be temporary if energy markets stabilize. Airlines have demonstrated in the past a strong capacity to adapt to external crises by adjusting routes, reducing capacity or renegotiating operating costs in order to maintain operations.
However, the current situation once again highlights aviation’s strong dependence on fuel prices. As long as energy markets remain influenced by geopolitical uncertainty, airlines will continue to face difficult decisions in order to balance their finances while ensuring the continuity of their services.
