Aer Lingus has cancelled a number of flights from its summer schedule, citing mandatory aircraft maintenance. The airline said the changes affect about 2 percent of its overall schedule and that the vast majority of passengers are being accommodated on alternative same-day services.

According to reports, more than 500 flights could be affected, including routes from Dublin to several European cities such as Amsterdam, Athens, Berlin, Faro and Zurich. Services to London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh are also impacted, with passengers being rebooked onto other flights.

The changes come amid wider pressures on the aviation sector linked to rising jet fuel costs and supply concerns. The head of the International Energy Agency recently warned that Europe may have only six weeks of jet fuel supplies left due to disruptions along key shipping routes. While Aer Lingus maintains the cancellations are due to maintenance requirements, industry observers say higher fuel costs are forcing many European airlines to trim less profitable summer routes. Ireland's transport minister said the country has a 70-day fuel reserve and described national supplies as robust.