An AirAsia aircraft taxis down the runway at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 4. LAUREN DECICCA/GETTY IMAGES
Editor's note: In this weekly feature China Daily gives voice to Asia and its people. The stories presented come mainly from the Asia News Network (ANN), of which China Daily is among its 20 leading titles.
Global airlines have cut 2 million seats from their May schedules as concerns grow over jet fuel supplies in the weeks ahead, the Financial Times reported.
Data from Cirium, a leading global aviation and travel analytics company, showed that thousands of flights have been canceled, while several airlines have switched to smaller or more fuel-efficient aircraft in an effort to conserve fuel as they prepare for supply disruption.
Since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in late February, jet fuel prices have doubled, forcing airlines to raise fares. The closure of airports in the Persian Gulf, which handle up to one-third of travel connections between Europe and Asia, has also thrown global travel into turmoil.
