High fuel costs reshape European airlines' winter operations

European airlines are entering the winter season with reduced schedules and more cautious growth plans as high fuel costs compound an already strained industry. Data from OAG shows 21 European carriers cut planned winter capacity by more than 5%. Air France-KLM expects capacity to rise about 2% in 2026, down from a prior forecast of 2% to 3%. Ryanair lowered its annual passenger target from 216 million to 214 million, while easyJet removed about 1.4 million seats. Lufthansa Group will cut short- and medium-haul capacity equivalent to five aircraft in its core airline. Jet fuel averaged $4.84 per gallon in Europe in October, the highest monthly level since the Middle East crisis, per Eurocontrol. The article cites profit and cost pressures across carriers.