Finance
Airline Sas to Cancel 1,000 Flights in April Due to High Fuel Prices, Di Reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 17, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 17, 2026
Quick Summary
SAS will cancel about 1,000 flights in April because jet fuel prices have more than doubled, driven by the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting fare hikes and schedule adjustments.
SAS to Cancel 1,000 Flights in April as High Fuel Prices Hit Aviation Industry
Impact of Rising Fuel Prices on SAS and the Aviation Industry
Background: Geopolitical Tensions and Fuel Price Surge
STOCKHOLM, March 17 (Reuters) - Scandinavian airline SAS said it would cancel 1,000 flights in April because of high oil and jet fuel prices caused by the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Swedish business daily Dagens Industri (DI) reported on Tuesday.
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is now in its third week, with no end in sight. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed off and U.S. allies have rebuffed U.S. President Donald Trump's calls for them to help reopen the vital waterway, through which about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
CEO Statement on Industry Challenges
"The price of jet fuel has doubled in ten days. Even if we try to absorb cost hikes as far as we can this is a shock that strikes directly at the aviation industry," SAS CEO Anko van der Werff told DI.
Operational Adjustments and Flight Cancellations
He said the company had cancelled a "couple of hundred" flights in March, adding that the airline normally had 800 daily flights and that the measures taken were not drastic. SAS has already hiked prices of flights due to rising fuel costs.
Company Response and Media Coverage
SAS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Johan Ahlander; Editing by Nia Williams)
Key Takeaways
- •SAS is canceling ~1,000 April flights—on a network of 800 daily departures—to manage surging fuel costs amid geopolitical turmoil (omniekonomi.se)
- •Jet fuel prices have soared globally, with per‑gallon costs up over 60% and barrel prices climbing from $85–90 to $150–200, squeezing airline margins (ksfr.org)
- •The disruptions stem from the Iran‑U.S.-Israeli conflict and the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles ~20% of global oil flow (en.wikipedia.org)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Airline SAS to cancel 1,000 flights in April due to high fuel prices, DI reports
1Why is SAS cancelling 1,000 flights in April?
SAS is cancelling 1,000 flights in April due to high oil and jet fuel prices caused by the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
2How has the Iran conflict impacted global fuel prices?
The Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to a doubling of jet fuel prices in ten days, directly affecting the aviation industry.
3How is SAS responding to increased fuel costs?
SAS is absorbing cost hikes where possible, cancelling flights, and increasing ticket prices to manage the impact of higher fuel costs.
4How many flights does SAS normally operate each day?
SAS normally operates around 800 flights per day.