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Published on: 05/04/2026 - 11:06 Modified on: 05/04/2026 - 11:07

The surge in the price of kerosene is destabilizing global air transport. In the United States, the bankruptcy of Spirit Airlines marks a turning point, while European and Asian companies are reducing their flights to limit losses.

The energy crisis is now hitting aviation hard. In the United States, Spirit Airlines, a low-cost pioneer, went bankrupt after years of financial fragility. Particularly at issue: the explosion in the price of kerosene, rising from around 750 to nearly 1,900 dollars per tonne.

A brutal shock for a model based on low-cost tickets. Immediate consequence: 17,000 employees affected and thousands of passengers to be urgently reclassified.

An industry forced to scale back

All over the world, companies are adjusting their offerings. In Europe, Transavia, KLM and the Lufthansa group are increasing flight cancellations to preserve their margins. Objective: save fuel on the least profitable lines. In India, Air India and its competitors are warning of a risk of bankruptcy and are requesting public aid.

For passengers in Europe, Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 requires reimbursement or rerouting in the event of cancellation, with possible compensation in certain cases. But one question remains open: can these cost-related cancellations be considered “extraordinary circumstances”? A point which could quickly find itself before the courts.

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