Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines deny fuel shortage grounding rumors

Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines (AUA) have denied reports of planning to ground up to 40 aircraft over fuel shortages. The claims first appeared in a Der Spiegel article, which was later withdrawn after being labelled as outdated. Der Spiegel initially published a preliminary report suggesting Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr had warned employees about a worsening crisis. It also claimed the executive board had prepared emergency measures, including grounding aircraft in a worst-case scenario.

AUA quickly responded, stating the report was based on an old recording from March. AUA CEO Annette Mann emphasised that fuel supplies for the summer were secured. A Lufthansa spokesperson also rejected the idea of an emergency scenario involving grounded planes.

The airline group has largely protected itself against rising kerosene prices through futures contracts. Der Spiegel later acknowledged the information was outdated and retracted the report. The retraction confirms that no immediate grounding of aircraft is planned. Lufthansa and AUA maintain that their fuel supplies remain stable for the summer. The incident highlights the importance of verifying information before publication.