Eurowings is considering temporary short-time work for employees in its German flight operation during winter 2026/27 as sharply higher kerosene prices pressure the airline’s costs. The Lufthansa subsidiary is consulting Germany’s Federal Employment Agency, but has not decided whether to introduce the measure. It is also reducing winter capacity, including planned Dubai services from Cologne/Bonn and Stuttgart, with the overall programme expected to shrink by about 5%.
The potential short-time work would affect the German flying operation, but Eurowings has not disclosed the number of employees, occupational groups or duration involved. It remains unclear whether pilots, cabin crew or both would be covered.
An internal management communication estimated almost €250 million in additional kerosene costs during 2026 compared with plan and warned that no relief from record fuel prices was expected in 2027. Although flights remain well booked, the airline expects the gap between revenue and costs to widen during the traditionally weaker winter months.
Eurowings is deploying fewer aircraft and crews and pursuing further savings through its Ebit Now programme, service-provider contract renegotiations and an administrative transformation intended to reduce staffing by 100 full-time positions by the end of 2028. Fleet renewal with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft remains part of its longer-term response to elevated fuel costs. The Dubai cuts reflect both weaker tourist demand linked to the Middle East situation and the economics of operating comparatively long routes with expensive fuel.