Europe's jet‑fuel alarm

Europe’s airlines are warning that jet fuel could become a summer choke point within weeks, with higher fares and flight cuts already spreading. (cnbc.com) The International Energy Agency told CNBC on April 16 that several European countries could face jet-fuel shortages within six weeks if imports cannot replace lost Middle East supply. The agency said the Middle East had previously accounted for 75% of Europe’s net jet-fuel imports. (cnbc.com) easyJet said on April 16 that rising fuel prices added about £25 million in costs in March alone, while bookings for later in 2026 were running 2% below 2025 levels. The carrier said it had hedged at least 70% of its summer fuel, but described the Middle East conflict as a source of near-term uncertainty. (easyjet.com) A senior easyJet executive in Spain said airports and producers were signaling no supply problems for the next three to four weeks, but said visibility beyond that was limited. That warning sharpened concern that the crunch could hit just as Europe moves into its busiest travel season. (majorcadailybulletin.com) The squeeze starts far from Europe’s terminals. Since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted shipments of crude and refined fuels, including jet fuel, and pushed prices sharply higher. (cnbc.com) CNBC reported U.S. jet fuel prices nearly doubled from $2.50 a gallon on February 27 to $4.88 on April 2. The Independent reported benchmark jet-fuel costs jumping from roughly $85-$90 a barrel to $150-$200 a barrel in recent weeks. (cnbc.com) (independent.co.uk) Airlines have started passing the shock to passengers. KLM said on April 16 it would cancel 160 European flights in the coming month, while Air France-KLM said long-haul round-trip fares would rise by €50 to cover fuel costs. (independent.co.uk) Lufthansa has told staff it is drawing up contingency plans for weaker demand or a lack of jet fuel, and those plans could include grounding aircraft. United Airlines has also said it may need to reduce some Asia flying because planes refuel locally and shortages abroad can still hit U.S. carriers. (cnbc.com) Brussels is now preparing emergency steps. European Union Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said on April 21 that member states may need to redistribute jet-fuel supplies, and Politico reported on April 22 that the Commission had put jet fuel and diesel at the center of a new emergency package. (jpost.com) (politico.eu) The stakes run well beyond holiday fares. Airports Council International Europe says air transport supports 14 million jobs and €851 billion in annual economic activity across Europe, which helps explain why officials are racing to keep fuel moving before the summer peak. (aci-europe.org) For travelers, the near-term picture is uneven rather than universal. Some airlines still have hedges and some countries, including Spain, say they are in a better position than neighbors, but the window officials are describing now is measured in weeks, not months. (easyjet.com) (majorcadailybulletin.com)