May 4 fuel‑delay warning

European airports could start seeing fuel-linked delays from Sunday, May 4, if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in a stable way. (euronews.com) The warning traces back to a letter dated April 9 from Airports Council International Europe, the trade group for more than 600 airports in 55 countries. It told European Union transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas that a “systemic jet fuel shortage” could become reality within three weeks. (cnbc.com) That three-week clock points to the week beginning May 4. Ryanair said its suppliers can guarantee fuel only to mid-to-late May, while easyJet said it is “well hedged” even as fuel pricing has turned volatile. (independent.co.uk) (euroweeklynews.com) The risk is not that Europe suddenly runs out of oil everywhere at once. Airports need a steady flow of jet fuel deliveries, and ACI Europe said reserves in some countries could cover only eight to ten days before rationing starts. (euronews.com) The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the open ocean. Before the war, about 20% of the world’s oil moved through it, and ACI Europe said around 40% of global jet fuel supply passes through the route. (cnbc.com) (euronews.com) Prices have already jumped before any broad airport shutdowns. CNBC cited International Air Transport Association data showing jet fuel prices were up 103% month on month in March, and Euronews reported European jet fuel at about $1,573 a tonne on April 9. (cnbc.com) (euronews.com) Some disruption is already visible on the ground in Italy. Euro Weekly News reported that Milan Linate, Venice Marco Polo, Treviso and Bologna introduced temporary refuelling limits earlier this month after supply problems. (euroweeklynews.com) ACI Europe asked Brussels for emergency steps, including European Union-wide fuel monitoring, collective purchases and targeted refinery measures to protect jet fuel production. Reuters, via RTÉ, also reported the group wants action before the peak summer travel season. (euronews.com) (rte.ie) Ryanair has framed the threat as a forward risk, not a confirmed wave of cancellations. The airline said it does not expect near-term shortages, but it cannot rule out supply risks at some European airports if the Strait stays constrained into May or June. (independent.co.uk) For passengers, the date to watch is May 4 because that is when the airport industry’s three-week warning window starts to bite. If fuel deliveries normalize before then, the threat eases; if they do not, delays could stack on top of Europe’s existing labor and air traffic control disruptions. (cnbc.com) (corporate.ryanair.com)