New Delhi, April 23 -- German airline Lufthansa has said that it would cut 20,000 short-haul flights over the next six months as the Iran war drives up fuel prices, making many journeys "unprofitable" for them.

The price of jet fuel has doubled since the start of the war in West Asia in late February, with production as well as transportation facing frequent disruption. And airlines are particularly vulnerable to fuel price shocks as jet fuel is one of their largest operating expenses.

Several other airlines, including KLM-France and Delta, have also temporarily cut flights while many have raised ticket prices as they pass on expenses to customers. If the war continues, travellers could expect higher fares in ticket prices and frequent ...