Europe warned: jet fuel low

European airports and airlines are warning that jet fuel shortages could start disrupting flights within weeks if supply through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume. (cnbc.com) Airports Council International Europe told European Union officials in an April 9 letter that a “systemic jet fuel shortage” could become reality within three weeks. On April 16, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol told The Associated Press Europe had “maybe six weeks or so” of jet fuel left under current conditions. (cnbc.com) (apnews.com) The supply squeeze follows the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the Iran war began on February 28, 2026. Before the conflict, about 20% of the world’s oil moved through the strait, and Europe got about 75% of its jet fuel imports from the Middle East. (cnbc.com) (money.usnews.com) Jet fuel is refined from crude oil, then moved by ship, pipeline and storage tanks to airports, so a shipping disruption can leave planes fueled on paper but short in the tank farm. Airlines have warned that if fuel stays tight, the first effects are likely to be higher fares, then selective cancellations and delays as summer schedules ramp up. (dailynews.com) (usatoday.com) Europe is trying to replace missing Gulf supplies with cargoes from the United States and Nigeria. Reuters reported on April 15 that inflows from those countries were at record levels, but replacement barrels still were not enough to fully cover the gap. (money.usnews.com) (aerotime.aero) The numbers show why. Europe normally imports about 375,000 barrels a day of jet fuel from the Middle East, while April shipments from the United States were projected near 200,000 barrels a day, leaving a shortfall of about 175,000 barrels a day even before summer demand peaks. (aerotime.aero) The pressure is uneven across the region. Reuters reported Spain is a net exporter of jet fuel, while Britain imports about 65% of its demand, and jet fuel stocks in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub fell last week to their lowest level since March 2023. (lse.co.uk) (srnnews.com) Fuel costs are already rising. ACI Europe said jet fuel prices were up 103% month over month in March, and CNBC reported the U.S. benchmark price climbed from $2.50 a gallon on February 27 to $4.88 on April 2. (cnbc.com) Brussels is now drafting emergency measures to map refining capacity, push plants to run at full use, and prepare additional jet fuel actions for publication on April 22. Airlines for Europe has asked for tighter stock monitoring and other contingency steps as carriers head into the busiest travel period of the year. (straitstimes.com) (rte.ie) For travelers, the calendar is the problem. Airport and energy officials are measuring the risk in three-week and six-week windows, which puts late May and June flights closest to the point where a fuel shortage could move from warning to operations. (cnbc.com) (apnews.com)