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• Jet fuel costs and supplies across the globe are under pressure from the US and Israeli war on Iran.
• Some major airlines are canceling flights in response.
• One airline exec described fuel prices as his business’s most serious challenge.

First, the war made flights more expensive. Now, it’s making them disappear.

The US and Israel’s war on Iran has disrupted supply chains, trapping oil in storage facilities across the Middle East.

That saw the price of Brent crude oil rocket past $100 a barrel in early March, before dipping back below that benchmark once ceasefire talks began this month. On Friday, the price was at $92.42 when markets closed.

Jet fuel prices have risen even faster, doubling in price to almost $200 a barrel. And as the war drags on, jet fuel is getting harder to come by for countries that don’t produce it or have limited supplies.

“In Europe, we have maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,” the International Energy Agency’s executive director, Fatih Birol, told the Associated Press on Thursday.

He added that, if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t opened, there would then be flight cancellations due to fuel shortages.

Several airlines have already canceled flights or grounded airplanes due to rising costs.

June Goh, a senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities, said in a post on X that jet fuel requires specialized storage, which means less is stored than for other products, like gasoline.

“Travel has gotten a lot more expensive in Asia, with many airlines adding fuel surcharges or downright canceling flights,” she wrote. “Europe is facing imminent jet fuel supply shortages. Brace yourselves.”

Here’s a look at some of the airlines that have already started canceling flights due to rising prices and falling supplies.

European airlines

Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, said it is considering reducing routes.

CEO Michael O’Leary said its jet fuel supply could be at risk if the war continues during an interview with Sky News.

“We don’t expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June,” he said.

KLM said on April 17 that it was canceling 80 return flights from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, its main base.

It added that these routes were “no longer financially viable to operate” due to rising kerosene costs. The airline also clarified that there was no kerosene shortage.

The same day, Germany’s Lufthansa announced that it was retiring dozens of aircraft ahead of schedule due to rising jet fuel prices and the impact of labor disputes.

Most of the airplanes are Canadair CRJ aircraft, as it shuts down its loss-making regional subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine.

Switzerland’s Edelweiss Air also said it was canceling flights to the US, due to declining demand and rising fuel prices. It will no longer fly to Denver or Seattle, and will reduce the frequency of flights to Las Vegas.

A spokesperson for Scandinavian Airlines said that it would cut about 1,000 flights in April due to the surge in jet fuel costs.

They added that most of the canceled flights were on short-haul routes in the Nordic region, at airports with multiple daily flights.

Asian airlines

Several airlines in Asia said they would cut flights to mitigate fuel shortages and mounting costs.

Vietnam Airlines suspended seven domestic flight routes beginning April 1, a local state-run newspaper reported, according to Reuters. The outlet reported that Vietnam Airlines planned to slash flight volume by 10% to 20% a month over the next financial quarter if jet fuel prices rise to $160 to $200 per barrel.

Other local airlines, including Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways, will also cut flights.

AirAsia said it has cut 10% of its flights and raised fares to curb the impact of rising fuel costs. The Malaysian low-cost carrier, which flies to 25 countries, added that it would cut capacity on routes where it couldn’t cover fuel costs.

At a media briefing on April 6, CEO Bo Lingam said the fuel surcharge has risen up to 20%, and overall ticket prices have risen 30% to 40%.

Lingam said its jet fuel had risen from $90 per barrel before the war to $200 per barrel, describing this as the airline’s most serious challenge.

United Airlines

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a March memo to staff that the company would cut flights over the next two quarters.

“In the short term, that means tactically pruning flying that’s temporarily unprofitable in the face of high oil prices,” Kirby said.

The airline planned to cancel some off-peak flights and red-eyes.

“If prices stayed at this level, it would mean an extra $11 billion in annual expense just for jet fuel,” Kirby said in a message to employees posted on the company’s website. “For perspective, in United’s best year ever, we made less than $5B.”

Delta Air Lines

Delta hasn’t officially announced any flight cuts due to fuel prices; the oil refinery it owns in Pennsylvania has given it a buffer during the crisis.

“It’s not going to cover the crack entirely, but gives us a fairly significant hedge,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said at a March JP Morgan conference.

Delta is cutting its seasonal Los Angeles to Anchorage route this summer, telling Business Insider that it “adjusts its schedule to align with customer demand.” Alaska Airlines will be the sole operator on that route.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand said it would cut about 5% its flights, or about 1,100, at the start of May.

“We’re focused on consolidating flights that are off-peak flying hours, for example, or where there is an alternative that we can re-accommodate customers,” CEO Nikhil Ravishankar told 1News, a local outlet, in March.

Air Canada

Air Canada said it will suspend certain routes starting in late May due to rising jet fuel costs.

“Jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, affecting some lower profitability routes and flights which now are no longer economically feasible,” the company’s statement said. “Schedule adjustments including some frequency reductions are being made in response.”

The route suspensions will impact certain domestic Canadian, transborder, and international flights.

• President Trump criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani over a proposed tax on rich second-homeowners.
• Mamdani said he’s not shocked by Trump’s remarks, given their “deep policy differences.”
• The pair’s working relationship has fluctuated between chummy and combative since NYC’s mayoral race.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s charm over President Donald Trump may be waning.

Trump lashed out at Mamdani on Thursday over a proposed tax targeting New York City’s ultra-wealthy. Governor Kathy Hochul has also backed the tax.

“Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG. People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS “STUFF” JUST DOESN’T WORK.”

The proposed pied-à-terre tax — introduced on Wednesday — would affect wealthy residents who own secondary properties in New York City valued over $5 million but live elsewhere. In a press release, the New York City Mayor’s Office said the tax is expected to generate $500 million in annual revenue, helping close the city’s budget gap.

The tax would directly affect billionaires such as Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Trump.

“The measure targets ultrawealthy out-of-city residents and global elites who use New York City real estate as a vehicle for wealth storage rather than as homes,” a press release said.

Mamdani acknowledged Trump’s remarks about him and the tax during a press conference on Friday, saying he wasn’t surprised.

“It’s not a surprise given the fact that the president and I have many deep policy differences, and I am not shy about airing them both publicly and privately,” Mamdani said.

Mamdani told reporters their differences in opinion “will continue.”

“The thing we have in common is that we’re both New Yorkers,” he said. “When I speak to the president, I always bring it back to the city and what I think will help the city.”

Since emerging as a serious contender in the New York City mayoral race, Trump and Mandani’s working relationship has fluctuated. Trump initially criticized Mamdani and his policies, but warmed to the mayor during an in-person Oval Office meeting last November.

During that meeting, Trump heaped praise on Mamdani, calling him “rational” and telling conservative critics they may be surprised by his leadership. He even told reporters he’d feel comfortable living in Mamdani’s New York City.

Still, though, Trump isn’t fully pleased with Mamdani’s policies.

“I mean, he’s a nice guy. Calls me all the time, says hi, but his policies are no good,” Trump said during an event earlier this week. “He’s chasing people out and causing a lot of harm to everybody. I mean, everybody’s taxes are going through the roof.”

• Growing up, I took lovely vacations to the Jersey Shore each summer.
• My kids love a beach trip, but I’m determined to take them on more adventurous getaways.
• We recently sailed to Antarctica, and it was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken.

Growing up, I loved family vacations. Every summer, we went to the Jersey Shore, where I spent hours building sandcastles and swimming in the ocean.

Now, my family enjoys the beach, but we also venture far beyond the golden sands of my childhood, taking trips I couldn’t have dreamed of as a child. Recently, my family literally traveled to the end of the earth, to a surprisingly lively world covered in ice, when we sailed to Antarctica.

There are so many reasons not to take children to Antarctica. The rough seas of Drake Passage, the cost, and the cold all gave me pause. However, taking an expedition cruise to Antarctica was an epic journey, our best family vacation to date.

I am glad I didn’t let anything keep us from experiencing the remote continent together. The stunning views of the Lemaire Channel, walking through the caldera off the black sand beach of Deception Island, and watching my kids jump into the freezing waters surrounding our ship for the ultimate polar plunge are memories that will never leave me.

Every day was a new adventure

Antarctica is notoriously unpredictable. Clear skies and calm seas can turn stormy in an instant. Once, I watched from my cabin as the current swiftly carried in huge pieces of flat ice, almost completely covering the calm waters where we were hoping to kayak that afternoon. Another day, the clouds parted, and we had a rare, glorious Antarctic day, watching penguins waddle in the sunshine as seals soaked up the rays on nearby icebergs, perhaps just as pleased with the weather as I was.

Because of the unpredictable weather and wildlife in Antarctica, the crew of our ship decided where to stop during the trip rather than beforehand. With no set itinerary, every day was a new adventure, with a surprise in store. Each evening, I anxiously awaited hearing the plan for the following morning, knowing that wherever the crew decided to take us would be a safe but awe-inspiring choice — and that the plan could change at any moment. My kids shared in my excitement.

My family got to experience Antarctica fully, but comfortably

Not long ago, Antarctica was nearly inaccessible to all but the most intrepid explorers. Now, travelers can choose to head there on large cruise ships with casinos that simply sail by or spend a few nights in a polar base camp for a fully immersive experience.

Our trip was somewhere in between, which was the perfect choice for my family. Every day of our week-long journey, we got off the ship twice. Once a day, we hiked on the continent in rubber boots or snowshoes, and once a day, we took to the water in a zodiac or kayak. Seeing multiple species of penguins waddle past us on “penguin highways” as they made their way to the sea is a sight that still makes me smile, even months after my trip. Walking into a basic wooden hut used by early Antarctic scientists gave my children a new appreciation for the sacrifices others made to help us understand our world and its climate.

While off the boat, we were fully immersed in Antarctica, but on the ship, we ate and slept well. Although I often drifted off to sleep thinking of early Antarctic explorers and scientists who wintered over on the ice in basic wood cabins, I was glad to spend the night eating at a gourmet restaurant and sleeping in a comfortable bed.

My kids weren’t always fans of the restaurant’s meals, so they sometimes headed to the buffet. Additionally, the onboard chef was always happy to make them buttered noodles, although they could have stayed full on the french fries, burgers, and milkshakes that were available throughout the afternoon. That was the right balance for my family.

We got a look at Antarctica in unique, family-friendly ways

When sailing long distances and spending every day exploring ice, life can start to feel repetitive, and I worried my children would become bored. After all, setting foot on Antarctica was my dream, not theirs. However, the company we went with, HX, offers several activities, on board and off, to keep things interesting for all ages.

In addition to hikes and zodiac rides, we also spent a morning reaching higher elevations in snowshoes and sea kayaking in the sea. While nearly flat with the water, we got almost uncomfortably close to humpback whales, paddled alongside penguins, and saw seals from a new vantage point.

My husband and son had the rare opportunity to camp on the ice under the midnight sun, very close to a penguin colony. Although my family tried to keep a respectful distance from the adorable, flightless birds, the penguins visited their camp at night — much to their delight. My children also decorated their water bottles with penguin stencils and painted postcards with watercolors to help pass the time.

My family learned a lot more than I expected and had fun doing it

I knew that my family and I would learn a lot about Antarctica during our visit, but I didn’t realize how much. Although my kids sometimes grumbled, we were active participants in the ship’s robust science program. We listened to lectures about the ice, the waters, and the wildlife in the air and sea. The on-board historian told riveting tales of the hardship, survival, and triumph of the first adventurers to set foot on Antarctica, which ultimately made our trip possible. He managed to keep my children’s attention as he spun tales to their conclusion, which is no easy task.

In the ship’s onboard science center, we examined whale bones up close. We saw marine life, abundant in the waters we sailed through, in astonishing detail through the ship’s powerful microscopes. My kids got to ride in a “science boat” and help Antarctic scientists collect marine life and water samples, and use sonar equipment to listen to sounds emitted from beneath the ocean. They even attended a kids-only meet-and-greet with onboard specialists.

It’s going to be hard to top the trip to Antarctica, but that won’t stop me from trying now that I know just about any trip can be kid-friendly.

• I became close friends with a woman 40 years older than me.
• She taught me about aging, resilience, and finding humor in life.
• Our unlikely friendship became one of the most meaningful in my life.

I met Marlee in a writing group. At the time, I was in my 30s with two young kids living in a starter house. She had responded to an ad that another writer friend and I had posted. We were looking to expand our critique group. Marlee’s response was something along the lines of, “If you don’t mind an old lady showing up, I’d love to join you.”

I wasn’t sure what to expect. When Marlee walked in, she sat down and, in her blunt way, which I would come to grow to love over the next decade plus, said, “I told you I was old.”

She completed our small group, which also consisted of two men and my original writer friend. We met a few times a month at local coffee shops and restaurants. We sent pages from whatever we were working on. I wrote absurd, sometimes scary, short stories. Marlee wanted to write a memoir about her life.

We could not have been more different, at least in terms of our lives. Her kids were grown and had kids of their own. I was raising a young family. She was a retiree living in an in-law apartment within her son’s family home. She had been married for decades. I had two kids and a husband and was still trying to figure out who (and what) I wanted to be when I grew up.

We had a 40-year age difference

Despite a 40-year age difference, our friendship thrived. We met for our group and for fun. Marlee invited another writing group member and me to her home for wine and appetizers. The two male members of our writing group dropped out. The three of us, Marlee, E.J., and I, remained. We met the orange cat with the big personality, whom Marlee often spoke of in the group. Peaches welcomed us, purring and head bumping us as we talked.

I invited Marlee to visit when we purchased our forever home. We ate cheese and crackers while we laughed about raising kids and marriage. She sent a present to the baby shower I had for my third child. It was a funny children’s book that matched her own sense of humor. When Marlee’s husband died, I attended the funeral. We became part of each other’s lives, even beyond our writing group. We were friends, no matter our age difference.

She taught me important life lessons

Marlee taught me some important lessons, including the importance of finding humor even in the most difficult times, as she had. She wrote about it often in the pages she shared with our writing group. I also learned another invaluable lesson from Marlee, that life goes on no matter what. She was a shining example of that. After the death of her husband, Marlee not only adjusted to life without him but thrived in so many ways. I think she even surprised herself and her kids.

Marlee also taught me that age is literally just a number. Her wit and playful outlook were those of someone young, full of life and promise. She also shared the dark parts of aging, the invisibility she felt.

We also became each other’s biggest cheerleaders when it came to our writing. She would jot notes on the pages I sent to her for each group. I still have them even now. I look at them for inspiration and encouragement. She enjoyed my wit and imagination, and I marveled at her gift for writing with honesty and humor, and for making her life story truly come alive.

I miss the bond we had

I think what really created a unique bond between us was the life details we shared in both our writing and our many conversations. I had seen snippets of her past from her childhood to her life as a mother and grandmother. She traveled, married a military man, and landed where I hoped I would one day end up — retired and having the privilege of watching her children parent their own children. I envied the life she’d made and the journey it took her to get there.

Over the past several years, we have maintained contact. It’s been hard. We are still friends on Facebook and have occasionally connected. I miss her and the bond we had. No matter where we end up, though, I will always be grateful for the things she’s taught me and for our unique friendship.

• A court has put a temporary block on the merger of Nexstar and Tegna.
• The local TV rivals are barred from combining operations until an antitrust lawsuit is settled.
• California AG Rob Bonta is among politicians opposing the merger, which he called “illegal.”

A federal judge in California has blocked the merger of local TV giant Nexstar and its rival, Tegna, until an antitrust lawsuit is settled.

US District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley on Friday issued a preliminary injunction that forbids Nexstar and Tegna from combining operations during the legal dispute with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and seven other state attorneys general.

The companies had previously received approval for the merger, reportedly worth $6.2 billion, from the Federal Communications Commission and the US Department of Justice last month. Nexstar and Tegna closed the deal on March 19, immediately after the DOJ announced early termination of its antitrust review.

Friday’s preliminary injunction follows a temporary restraining order granted last month in a challenge brought by satellite TV company DirecTV.

Describing the injunction as “a critical win in our case,” Bonta said: “This merger is illegal, plain and simple. The federal government may have thrown in the towel, but we’ll keep fighting for consumers, for workers, for affordability, and for our local news.”

Nexstar, the largest owner of local broadcast television stations in the country, said it would appeal the decision.

“This pro-competitive transaction will make local stations stronger and support continued investment in local journalism and fact-based news. We will appeal today’s decision and look forward to presenting our case on its merits before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals,” it said in a statement.

• Sarah Hayles developed a facial injury following a routine surgery when she was 26.
• She had five years of traumatic testing before a doctor helped her “move on” with her life.
• The mom of two is raising awareness that appearances don’t — and shouldn’t — matter.

This interview is based on a conversation with Sarah Hayles, 44, a mining engineer from Queensland, Australia. It has been edited for length and clarity.

In August 2008, at 26, I had routine surgery to remove a pterygium. It’s a tiny, non-cancerous growth on your eye, sometimes known as “surfer’s eye,” which, if left unchecked, could have affected my vision.

As soon as I woke up from the anesthesia, I knew that something wasn’t right. It was incredibly painful, but there was also a dullness in the area, and my eyeball seemed to move more slowly.

At first, it wasn’t too noticeable. But, as the weeks and months went by, my eyelid started to droop, and the eye began to turn.

I had an emergency MRI

I had repeated checkups that turned up nothing and was eventually referred to a top eye specialist in Brisbane, about 600 miles from my home in the Australian outback. He finally saw me in April 2010.

Within 15 minutes, he arranged an MRI for that same night. I asked what he thought could be wrong, and he said it could be something as serious as a brain tumor or multiple sclerosis.

It was absolutely terrifying, but they found no evidence of a tumor and, after two years of testing, ruled out MS. To this day, I still haven’t been diagnosed with anything.

All I know is that I’ve been poked and prodded by doctors and consultants who have performed every test under the sun. Some were traumatic, such as being zapped with electricity to check for nerve damage and a lumbar puncture to analyze my spinal fluid.

The appearance of my eye deteriorated over time. I used to look in the mirror as a 30-something and think it was very noticeable. Still, compared to how it appears now, it wasn’t.

A kind doctor gave me good advice

The experience put me through the wringer. I refused to have my photo taken and thought nobody would want to date or marry me.

Then, in 2013, I saw a kind, grandfatherly doctor who all but held my hand during the appointment. He said that I was beautiful, healthy, and strong, and I needed to find a way to be OK with it.

His advice put an end to all the onerous testing and waiting for definitive results that never came. “I can do this and move on,” I thought to myself.

I had no psychotherapy or counseling, but I did my own research by reading books about having a positive mindset. Slowly, I became more confident.

I met my husband, Brian, 45, a diesel fitter, through mutual friends on Facebook in 2015. It was a whirlwind romance, and we got engaged and married in less than a year.

I’m so glad I have children

Our relationship taught me so much. Focusing on appearances is BS. If you do, you can easily miss the person within.

I’d always wanted to have kids, but in the years immediately following my injury, I changed my mind. I didn’t think I’d have the strength to deal with their school friends pointing at me.

Now that Brian and I have Jack, 8, and Astrid, 6, I can’t imagine life without them. In fact, I think they’ve indirectly benefited from what happened to me.

I’ve raised them not to judge people by the way they look. “It’s all about how someone behaves and how they make you feel,” I say.

Yes, I do get the occasional stare, especially from young children. Sometimes it’s awkward as their parents don’t know what to say, but I give them grace. Nobody is being malicious.

I want to normalize facial injuries

These days, I do a lot of keynote speaking about resilience and how I regained my confidence. I launched my Instagram account to help normalize issues like mine.

I know I could have allowed this facial injury to be something awful that ruined my life, or turned it into a positive. I’m glad I chose the latter.