India, April 23 -- A massive shortage of aviation fuel due to the Iran-US war has triggered a wave of flight cancellations across Europe and the Middle East. On Wednesday, the industry giant Lufthansa alone axed 20,000 flights through the summer season, after reducing flight capacity for some routes for weeks. 

The crisis, fuelled by escalating tensions at the critical chokepoint-Strait of Hormuz-and supply chain collapses, has left tens of thousands of travellers stranded. There's a prolonged fear of "jet fuel shock" that could cripple international air travel for months.

Lufthansa Group announced that in a bid to protect itself from the soaring cost of oil, it is forced to cancel flights over the next six months to save 40,000 me...