Jet fuel prices doubled
Reports say jet fuel prices have roughly doubled amid disruptions tied to the Iran war and near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which Reuters and NPR link to a possible risk of European summer flight disruptions and airline price hikes ( ).
Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled since the Iran war disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, tightening supplies for airlines and airports heading into Europe’s summer travel season. (npr.org) The International Air Transport Association’s fuel monitor put the global average jet fuel price at $197.83 a barrel last week. National Public Radio reported on April 15 that prices had doubled as ship traffic through Hormuz fell. (iata.org) (npr.org) The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow shipping lane between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. The International Energy Agency says about 20 million barrels a day of crude oil and oil products moved through it in 2025, equal to about 25% of global seaborne oil trade. (iea.org) The current disruption traces to the war that began on February 28, 2026, and the resulting near-shutdown of Gulf exports. The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas wrote on March 20 that producers including Iraq and Kuwait had already started cutting output in early March. (dallasfed.org) Europe is especially exposed because jet fuel is the transport fuel it imports most heavily. Reuters reported on April 15 that Europe has shut more than 30 refineries over the past 25 years, cutting refining capacity by 16%. (reuters.com) Airport operators are warning that the squeeze is moving from higher costs to possible shortages. Airports Council International Europe said on April 10 that European airports could face a “systemic” jet fuel shortage within three weeks if stable passage through Hormuz does not resume. (businesstravelnewseurope.com) The European Commission said on April 14 that there was no jet fuel shortage in the European Union at that point, but it also said supply problems could occur and that the issue remained a top concern. (reuters.com) By April 16, the warning had grown sharper. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol told The Associated Press that Europe had “maybe 6 weeks or so” of jet fuel left and said flight cancellations could come “soon” if supplies stay blocked. (apnews.com) The immediate effect for travelers is usually price before cancellation: airlines can add fuel surcharges, raise fares, trim routes, or drop less profitable flights first. If the Strait stays constrained into May, the pressure on summer schedules will keep building faster than airlines can replace the missing fuel. (npr.org) (apnews.com)
