Europe Faces Flight Cancellations as Aviation Fuel Reserves Dwindle

The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that Europe's reserves of aviation fuel may last only about six more weeks. This looming shortage threatens to force partial flight cancellations in the near future if oil shipments remain blocked due to conflict with Iran.

Last week, the International Council of Airports in Europe sent a letter to the European Commission stating that a shortage of aviation fuel could begin in early May if tankers cannot pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

The situation varies significantly across European nations. Austria, Bulgaria, and Poland are reported to have good reserves of aviation fuel. In contrast, the United Kingdom, Iceland, and the Netherlands face much tighter supplies. France finds itself in an intermediate position. The impact will not be uniform for all airports and airlines.

"Smaller, inland airports will be in a weaker position than major hubs," said ING bank economist Rico Luman. "We are talking not about a complete halt, but about partial cancellations of flights for some airlines and airports." Airlines currently have limited options for planning their flight schedules effectively.

The European trade association Airlines for Europe (A4E), whose members include Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, and Ryanair, has called on the European Union to begin providing real-time information on aviation fuel stocks at airports. This data would need to come from fuel suppliers, who are reportedly reluctant to share confidential commercial information with their large clients.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol described the blockade as "the biggest energy crisis we have ever faced," triggered by the halt of oil, gas, and other vital resource shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. He drew a pointed analogy: "In the past there was a musical group called Dire Straits. Now the situation in the strait is critical, and this will have serious consequences for the global economy."

Birol added that some countries would "suffer more than others," naming Japan, Korea, India, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh as nations on the front line of this energy crisis. He also spoke out against reported fees imposed by Tehran for vessels passing through the strait.

This development follows a recent statement by former US President Donald Trump claiming he had opened the Strait of Hormuz "forever" for China and the world.