The CEO of the German Airports Association, Ralph Beisel, has warned that Germany is likely to face significant flight cancellations this summer as a result of an ongoing oil crisis. This crisis has been exacerbated by the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, which has led to blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil exports from the Middle East.
In an interview with the German publication Welt, Beisel stated, “In the best-case scenario, passenger traffic growth will stagnate until 2026. In the worst-case scenario, some airports could see a 10 percent reduction in capacity. Extrapolating this across all airports, it could affect 20 million passengers. Some destinations may not be serviced at all.”
The association has reported that aviation fuel prices have doubled since the onset of the conflict in February 2026. Beisel noted, “We do not expect a return to normal conditions in the coming months.”
Previously, the European Commission issued recommendations for the EU transport and tourism sectors in light of fuel supply disruptions and the closure of certain air and sea routes.
Airlines may be exempt from the 90-percent increase in fuel costs as stipulated by the ReFuelEU Aviation program, according to the European Commission.
The Commission has emphasized that there is no aviation fuel shortage within the EU and is preparing various contingency plans to address potential fuel crises stemming from the conflict with Iran.
Additionally, the European Commission has suggested that EU countries voluntarily share aviation fuel reserves to mitigate the risk of shortages at European airports.
Germany faces potential flight cancellations this summer due to an oil crisis linked to geopolitical tensions. The situation has prompted the European Commission to recommend measures to address fuel supply disruptions.