The US airline United Airlines has because of the drastic increase in energy prices caused by the Iran war limited their flight schedule. In total, around five percent of the capacity planned for this year would be temporarily shut down, company boss Scott Kirby announced. United is currently preparing for the oil price to rise to $175 (151 euros) per barrel and not fall below the $100 (86 euros) per barrel mark before the end of 2027. At the same time, it is possible that things won’t be that bad, said Kirby.
At the current level it would Kerosene price This would mean additional costs for the airline of $11 billion annually, Kirby said. The price of kerosene has more than doubled in the past few weeks. At the same time, Kirby assured employees that the airline had a solid financial cushion and did not want to skimp on investments in the future.
Flight connections to Tel Aviv and Dubai suspended
Around one percent of capacity is already falling due to the currently suspended flight connections Tel Aviv and Dubai gone, United said. In addition, currently unprofitable routes, which account for around three percent of capacity, will not be served in the next two quarters. These include night flights or connections on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. In addition, one percent will be saved in Chicago, which is a hub for United.
The Oil prices are currently rising because almost no oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz due to fear of Iranian attacks. The strait between Iran and the United Arab Emirates is an important route for the international transport of oil and liquefied natural gas. In order to reduce energy prices, the government of US President Donald Trump sanctions against Russia and Iran have already been relaxed.