Jetstar cuts domestic services and to Australia as fuel costs soar
Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Jetstar has cut some domestic and trans-Tasman services as demand drops amid the war in Iran which has sent fuel prices higher and with it fares.
More than 55 flights, or 12% of flights, have been cut from the budget airline’s schedule in May, a Jetstar spokesperson said.
Affected services included some flights between Auckland and Wellington, and Auckland to Christchurch. Across the Tasman, services that have been cancelled include flights between Auckland and Sydney, and Auckland and Brisbane.
“We have made some temporary changes to our schedule, including due to a rise in jet fuel prices as a result of the conflict in the Middle East and other rising costs,” a Jetstar spokesman said.
Are you affected by airline cancellations? Email news@thepost.co.nz
Read more:
Iran war: Government announces $50 boost to Working for Families
Iran war: Why construction is one of the industries hit first and hardest in a fuel crisis
Affected passengers had been moved to other flights.
Air New Zealand has made similar moves to consolidate flights between March 16 and May 3 due to unprecedented volatility in jet fuel prices caused by conflict in the Middle East.
The airline told nearly 44,000 affected passengers that their flights were among 1100 services between mid-March and early May that would be cancelled.
Air New Zealand was also looking at reducing a small number of international services, but said US services were an important link to Europe, particularly while there were disruptions in the Middle East.
A more than doubling in the price of aviation fuel costs and a shortage of supply had also forced some airlines in Asia to make schedule changes, the Australian Financial Review reported.
Budget airline such as Jetstar would feel the effect of higher aviation fuel prices much faster than full-service airlines because fuel made up a higher proportion of their costs leaving them more exposed to price increases Taylor said.