ruth901
Kerosene crisisVacation in danger! What awaits us during the summer holidays
Are holiday flights canceled due to the kerosene crisis?
www.imago-images.de, IMAGO/Noah Wedel
from Rouven Schroth
When summer vacation turns into a nightmare:
While families dream of the beach, airlines are already calculating how far the kerosene will last – and what needs to be cut first. Many people who have planned a vacation are worried whether their flight will be canceled in a few weeks.
Kerosene is becoming scarce, tickets are increasing: are we threatened with canceled flights in the summer of 2026 – and how safe is the vacation really?
Uncertainty has long since arrived in pedestrian zones like in Munich. “We're flying in two weeks – we hope it doesn't get cancelled,” say passers-by, while others complain that people can no longer afford flights, especially with family.
Reading tip: Kerosene is becoming scarce: flight cancellations from the end of May
The energy crisis is getting worse, even though the all-clear was given for a few days today. Iran is temporarily opening the important Strait of Hormuz. But due to the long closure, important supply chains for oil and kerosene are stuck, and the European airline association warns that the reserves could only last a few weeks. Behind the scenes there has long been talk of a “kerosene crisis” – and airlines are checking where the red pencil can be applied first.
Industry experts paint a clear scenario: When fuel becomes scarce, the peripheral connections are the first to drop – i.e. the very early morning and late evening flights, which are less heavily booked. Short routes within Germany or to neighboring countries have a higher risk of cancellation because there are rail alternatives here.
Popular holiday lines for sure!
Holiday airlines with high utilization, on the other hand, are considered comparatively safe: the scarce kerosene is first used on routes where airlines earn the most – i.e. on well-filled holiday routes to Spain, Greece, etc.
And what happens if your own flight is actually canceled? Travel lawyers reassure: If a trip is canceled by the airline or organizer, customers must get the flight or package price back; extra costs cannot simply be passed on.
Recommendations from our partners
Will package holidays that have already been booked become more expensive?
Organizers can subsequently increase package tours – but only under strict conditions: a maximum of 8 percent surcharge, the increased costs (e.g. kerosene) must be verifiable and the information must come at least 20 days before departure. Large German organizers signal that they would be very careful with such additional demands – but this cannot be ruled out for individual providers.
The apparently good news for vacationers: Summer vacations are unlikely to be canceled in large numbers – but they will be significantly more expensive. Prices for flights and hotels have already increased noticeably, in some cases by up to 50 percent, especially for popular destinations in the Mediterranean region.
Video tip: Iran threatens global attacks – experts classify it as a mullah threat
Those who are just booking now will feel this particularly: less choice, less cheap flights, higher ticket prices. The experts' tip: Book as early and flexibly as possible, choose main connections rather than exotic peripheral routes – and on package tours, look carefully at the small print to see what price changes are allowed. (ros)
Sources used: own RTL research, focus.de, handelsblatt.de
