Air France-KLM cuts 2026 capacity growth forecast on fuel cost fears

9 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 30

The airline now sees capacity rising 2%-4%, down from 3%-5%, and expects its 2026 fuel bill to jump $2.4 billion to $9.3 billion.
It said jet fuel prices have surged after the Strait of Hormuz closed following US-Israel strikes on Iran, threatening results in coming quarters.
First-quarter revenue rose 4.4% to 7.48 billion euros, while its 27 million euro operating loss was far smaller than analysts expected; passengers increased 2.3% to 22.3 million.

As airlines report surprisingly strong profits, are they using the fuel crisis to justify cutting flights and raising prices?

With US airlines unhedged, could this fuel crisis give better-prepared European carriers a decisive market advantage?

Beyond higher fares, could a physical jet fuel shortage actually ground a significant portion of European flights this summer?

Is the Iran war the shock that finally makes expensive sustainable fuel a strategic necessity for airline survival?

Could Delta's once-mocked oil refinery now be the most valuable asset in the entire US airline industry?

With global supply chains choked, could a prolonged conflict in Iran trigger a worldwide recession in 2026?