Overview
- Europe’s airport association warned in a letter to EU officials that systemic jet fuel shortages are likely within three weeks unless ships can again pass the Strait of Hormuz.
- The closure of the waterway has choked off Gulf supplies that Europe depends on for a significant share of its jet fuel, squeezing stocks and threatening airport operations during the summer build‑up.
- Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the conflict began, with northwest Europe benchmarks near $1,573 per tonne, pushing airlines to add fees and raising the risk of higher fares.
- Airlines and airports have started to adjust, with Delta cutting capacity by 3.5%, SAS canceling 1,000 April flights, LOT and Air New Zealand trimming services, Ryanair warning of reductions, and some Italian airports imposing temporary fuel limits.
- ACI Europe is pressing the European Commission to map fuel stocks, monitor production, and relax import rules, while industry leaders warn any restart of Hormuz traffic would take weeks to reach airports, putting May and June travel at risk.