IATA has joined a growing number of industry voices warning that European flights could start to be cancelled in the coming weeks because of jet fuel shortages linked to the Iran war.
The issue gained wider attention last week after the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) told the Associated Press that Europe had only six weeks of jet fuel supplies left before shortages could begin causing cancellations.
In response, Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, said the association shares those concerns. He described the IEA’s assessment as sobering and said IATA also believes that by the end of May, Europe could start seeing flight cancellations caused by a lack of jet fuel.
Walsh noted that this is already happening in parts of Asia. He said authorities should not only do everything possible to secure alternative supply lines, but also ensure there are clear, coordinated and well-communicated contingency plans in place in case fuel rationing becomes necessary. He specifically mentioned the need to prepare for issues such as slot relief.
The fuel shortages are being driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global oil supplies normally pass.
Against that backdrop, airline group Airlines for Europe (A4E), which represents 16 airlines accounting for around 80% of European air traffic, has called on the European Union to introduce temporary measures to help carriers deal with the impact of the Middle East conflict. Among its requests are closer monitoring of jet fuel availability and legal clarity around the application of current legislation.
At the same time, ACI Europe has written to the EU warning that airports could begin running short of jet fuel within the next three weeks unless the Strait of Hormuz reopens soon. The association wants to see the creation of a European monitoring platform to coordinate the response and map fuel availability across the region.
ACI Europe is also calling for increased imports from alternative supply sources and the possibility of joint procurement between member states.
Some airlines have already started reacting. KLM has adjusted parts of its schedule, saying that higher fuel prices had made certain flights financially unviable, although the airline stressed that it was not facing a kerosene shortage as such.
Meanwhile, Lufthansa has accelerated the retirement of aircraft operated by its CityLine subsidiary, saying jet fuel prices had more than doubled compared with the period before the Iran war. As a result, Lufthansa Cargo’s A321 freighters operated by CityLine have been temporarily grounded.
