British Airways Suspends Middle East Routes and Lufthansa Removes 20,000 Flights as Jet Fuel Shortage Hits European Aviation

British Airways has suspended Gulf routes until July 2026, and Lufthansa has pulled 20,000 flights. Here is what UK travellers need to know.

Global aviation is facing one of its most significant periods of disruption in recent memory. A combination of ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East and a rapidly worsening jet fuel shortage has forced major airlines to suspend routes, slash schedules, and rethink their entire operations. For British travellers, the consequences are being felt directly — particularly those with plans to visit the Gulf region this summer.

British Airways has made the decision to suspend several of its most popular Gulf routes, with flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, and Amman all halted in response to the ongoing instability across Middle Eastern airspace. The airline has permanently cancelled its London Heathrow to Jeddah route, and has reduced its London to Riyadh service from two daily flights to just one from mid-May 2026.

When Gulf services partially resume from 1 July 2026, the scale of the operation will be drastically reduced. The Heathrow–Dubai route, which previously operated three daily flights, will run just one flight per day. Similarly, the Heathrow–Doha service drops from two daily departures to one. Abu Dhabi remains suspended until later in the year, with no confirmed return date currently in place.

In place of Gulf capacity, British Airways is redirecting its aircraft to South Asia and Africa, launching additional services to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Nairobi — markets where demand has risen sharply as travellers seek direct routes that bypass the Gulf entirely.

The root cause of this widespread disruption is a severe jet fuel shortage linked to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Middle Eastern refineries, which supply approximately 75% of Europe's jet fuel, have seen output fall to near zero. As a result, wholesale jet fuel prices have more than doubled in a matter of weeks.

The International Energy Agency has described the situation as the biggest energy security threat in modern history, warning that Europe could face genuine fuel shortages heading into the peak summer season, when demand typically rises by around 40%.

Other carriers are also feeling the pressure. KLM has cut 160 intra-European flights, Scandinavian Airlines has cancelled 1,000 April services, and easyJet reported an additional fuel cost in March alone, with higher summer fares now expected across the board.

If you have an existing booking to a Gulf destination or a connecting flight through a Middle Eastern hub, it is important to check your booking status directly with your airline. Passengers on affected British Airways routes are being offered rebooking or refund options. With fewer seats available across European networks through the summer, travellers are advised to review their plans and explore alternatives sooner rather than later.

At Crystal Travel, our team is monitoring all developments closely. Whether you need to rebook, reroute, or explore new destinations entirely, we are here to help you find the best available options for your summer travel.