Jet‑fuel alarm for Europe
Airline bodies warned Europe could face a jet‑fuel shortage in as little as three weeks, raising the possibility of flight groundings and schedule chaos (cnbc.com). Reuters reports airlines are already bracing for disruptions as the Iran conflict exposes Europe’s declining refining capacity, and the EU warned member states a continuing conflict could trigger a prolonged energy shock requiring cuts to fuel consumption ( ).
Europe’s airlines are warning that jet fuel could run short within weeks, putting summer flight schedules at risk. (cnbc.com) Airports Council International Europe told European Union officials in a 9 April letter that, without a significant and stable reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within three weeks, a “systemic” jet-fuel shortage would become a reality across the bloc. The Financial Times reported the warning on 10 April. (ft.com) Reuters reported on 15 April that airlines were already bracing for disruptions as Europe’s refining system struggles to replace lost supply. The same report said more than 30 European refineries, equal to 16% of the continent’s capacity, have shut over the past 25 years. (hydrocarbonprocessing.com) Jet fuel is the fuel airlines burn, and Europe depends on imports for it more than for any other transport fuel. That leaves airports exposed when crude oil and refined products stop moving through the Gulf shipping lanes. (cnbc.com) The choke point is the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that carries a large share of the world’s oil trade. Euronews, citing industry figures, said about 40% of global jet-fuel supply passes through that route. (euronews.com) The supply hit is not only about tankers. The International Energy Agency said Asian refineries, which get about 60% of their crude imports from the Middle East, cut runs by about 3 million barrels a day between February and April. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) Prices have already jumped. The International Air Transport Association’s jet-fuel monitor showed the global average jet-fuel price at $197.83 a barrel last week, even after a 5.3% weekly decline. (iata.org) European Union diplomats were warned on 15 April that, if the Iran conflict continues, energy markets face a prolonged supply shock that could force cuts to fuel consumption. Reuters reported that message came as governments weighed how to manage shortages across the wider economy, not only aviation. (uk.finance.yahoo.com) Airlines are also pressing Brussels for temporary relief measures as fuel costs rise and supply tightens. Bloomberg reported on 14 April that major carriers including Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair and International Airlines Group were seeking help from the European Union. (bloomberg.com) The immediate test is whether fuel flows through Hormuz normalize before Europe’s peak summer travel season ramps up. If they do not, the warning from airports and airlines points to grounded planes, thinner schedules and higher costs spreading from energy markets to holiday travel. (cnbc.com)
