Air Transat latest Canadian airline to suspend flights due to high price of fuel

Air Transat is the latest Canadian airline to announce cuts to its flight schedule due to the high cost of jet fuel. Photo by John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette

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Climbing jet fuel prices have partially grounded another Canadian airline, forcing it to cut back its flight schedule.

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On Wednesday, Air Transat announced suspension of six per cent of its flights thanks to the oil shock arising from the war in the Middle East. In a public statement, the airline announced it has revised its 2026 program, with targeted adjustments on certain routes, in response to the “unprecedented aviation fuel crisis and exceptional volatility” in energy markets.

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The airline says it “has been facing significant fuel price volatility for several weeks,” as well as supply constraints in regions such as Cuba. That has resulted in reducing the number of flights on some routes to Europe and the Caribbean and extending the suspension of service to Cuba until October. Affected customers will be offered alternative travel options.

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The measures, says Air Transat, are aimed at optimizing capacity by prioritizing the airline’s most profitable routes. “The changes implemented to date represent a 6% reduction in planned capacity from May to October 2026.”

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“The recent volatility in aviation fuel prices reflects an exceptional environment affecting the entire sector,” said Annick Guérard, president and Chief Executive Officer. “We are closely monitoring the situation, as cost pressures continue to be felt across the industry. We will continue to optimize our program based on demand, which remains strong. Additional measures may be implemented depending on how the situation evolves, beyond our control.”

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Air Transat’s decision comes after Air Canada and WestJet trimmed their capacity across the globe in less lucrative routes and ground older, less energy-efficient planes in the face of high fuel costs, reports Bloomberg.

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Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, announced the suspension of a half-dozen routes, citing higher fuel costs, National Post has previously reported. WestJet on Monday announced flight capacity cuts from April through June — that month’s reduction will reach six per cent.

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Meanwhile, Lufthansa has announced reductions of its summer capacity.

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“In total, 20,000 short-haul flights will be removed from the schedule through October, equivalent to approximately 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel, the price of which has doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict,” said the airline in a public statement.

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The adjustments will reduce the number of short-haul flights across the Lufthansa Group network in its six hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome. Otherwise, says the airline, passengers will still have access to its global route network, particularly through long-haul connections.

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As previously reported by National Post, experts have warned about fuel shortages in Europe causing disruptions through the summer travel season.

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