Europe jet‑fuel alarm

Europe’s airport industry is warning that a jet-fuel shortage could hit within three weeks if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen in a stable way. (cnbc.com) Airports Council International Europe said that risk in a letter to European Union transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas on April 10. The group said the crunch could disrupt airport operations and summer air connectivity across the bloc. (cnbc.com) Jet fuel is the kerosene airplanes burn, and Europe does not make all of its own supply. The International Air Transport Association said on March 6 that Europe gets about 25% to 30% of its jet-fuel demand from the Persian Gulf. (iata.org) The same International Air Transport Association report said the Strait of Hormuz normally carries about 20% of the world’s oil supply. It said tanker traffic there had collapsed by 70% to 80% after the conflict that escalated on February 28, 2026. (iata.org) Europe’s exposure is not just about imports. The airline trade group said commercial jet-fuel inventories in Europe usually cover only a little more than one month of demand, leaving little room for a long shipping disruption. (iata.org) The European Commission moved before the airport warning became public. On March 31, it told European Union countries to coordinate plans to secure oil and refined products, defer non-emergency refinery maintenance, and avoid steps that would restrict fuel flows inside the single market. (ec.europa.eu) Brussels also said European Union countries are required to hold oil stocks and contingency plans. The Commission said member states were contributing about 20% of a release of more than 400 million barrels of emergency oil stocks coordinated by the International Energy Agency. (ec.europa.eu) The timing is difficult for Europe’s airports because summer is the busiest part of the year. Airports Council International Europe’s traffic forecast says passenger volume in 2026 is expected to run 7.9% above 2019 levels. (aci-europe.org) The airport group says air connectivity supports 14 million jobs and €851 billion in annual economic activity in Europe. That is why it is asking for tighter fuel monitoring and steps to protect jet-fuel output from being displaced by other refinery products. (cnbc.com) For travelers in the United States, the picture is calmer on April 12 than it is in Europe. USA Today reported that major disruptions or price spikes for U.S. summer travelers are unlikely for now, though a longer conflict could change that later in 2026. (usatoday.com)