Lufthansa carries extra fuel as Frankfurt and Zurich face supply strain

Lufthansa has told crews on selected flights to Frankfurt to take on extra fuel before departure, while the Swiss government has authorised withdrawals from jet fuel reserves to prevent a shortage at Zurich Airport. According to AeroTime, Lufthansa said on 15 October 2026 that the step was a precaution and that it did not expect flight cancellations.

Frankfurt: pipeline maintenance and tankering

The measures at Frankfurt follow pipeline maintenance that is reducing supply capacity at Lufthansa's main hub. Carrying additional fuel from another airport is known as tankering, and it allows aircraft to take on less fuel in Frankfurt before their next flight. AeroTime reports that the warning mainly affected short-haul flights, although some long-haul services were also affected.

Lufthansa said the measures were already helping and that it expected to end them in the near future, according to German broadcaster Tagesschau, as cited by AeroTime.

Airport operator Fraport described the maintenance as routine and planned for some time. It said alternative supply routes and substantial storage capacity meant it did not expect a supply bottleneck. Reuters quoted Fraport as saying: "The airport's operational capability is therefore not affected."

Zurich: reserves released after rail delays

In Switzerland, the government warned on 15 October that delayed and cancelled rail deliveries had left Zurich Airport facing a jet fuel shortage, AeroTime reports. Authorities approved the withdrawal of up to 30,000 cubic metres (30 million litres) from mandatory reserves between 15 October and 1 November. That equates to about 6.5% of Switzerland's available mandatory jet fuel reserves.

The government said freight disruption, particularly on rail routes from Germany, was stopping fuel arriving on time. Low water levels on the Rhine have added to the problem by pushing other goods off the river and onto an already heavily used rail network. The government said missed deliveries could not be made up quickly enough, and that without the reserves the stock at Zurich would not cover the shortfall.

Zurich is the home hub of SWISS, part of the Lufthansa Group, although the source does not describe any specific measures taken by that airline. Readers comparing the two carriers can see our Lufthansa vs SWISS comparison.

What this means for travellers

• Lufthansa says it does not expect cancellations, and Fraport says airport operations at Frankfurt are not affected, so most itineraries through the hub should run as planned.
• Short-haul flights are the most likely to be affected by the extra-fuel measures, though some long-haul services were also touched.
• Carrying additional fuel can be part of normal flight planning, but the sources do not say whether it will cause delays.
• At Zurich, the reserve release runs from 15 October to 1 November. The sources do not say whether any flights have been delayed or cancelled.
• Passengers connecting through either hub should check flight status with their airline before travelling.

It is not yet clear how long the rail and river disruption affecting Switzerland will last.

Sources: AeroTime, which cites Tagesschau and Reuters.