The largest European airlines warned of a serious risk of a shortage of aviation fuel in the coming weeks and requested the urgent intervention of the European Commission, due to the deepening of the energy crisis caused by tensions in the Middle East and possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Major airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France and Ryanair are asking Brussels to assess the availability of kerosene, intervene in the market and organize joint fuel procurement at the EU level, modeled after the mechanism introduced after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The pressure also comes from the airport. The Airports Council International (ACI), a global association that represents the interests of airport operators around the world, also warned European officials that unless transit through the Strait of Hormuz normalizes within the next three weeks, the EU could face a systemic shortage of jet fuel. The letter to the energy and transport commissioners emphasizes that air connectivity generates around €851 billion of GDP and supports as many as 14 million jobs in Europe.
Photo: AP Photo/Matthias SchraderThe crisis in the Middle East is beginning to affect European air traffic
Further deterioration after the collapse of negotiations
The situation worsens further after the failed negotiations between the United States of America and Iran, while the US President Donald Trump announced the possibility of blocking all tankers leaving the region. In just one day, the price of oil increased by about seven percent, while the stock markets recorded a significant decline.
Concerns are growing in the airline industry that fuel shortages could lead to reduced flights, cancellations and disruption ahead of the summer season.
In addition to market intervention, airlines are seeking regulatory changes that would protect them from additional financial losses. One of the proposals is to ease the rules on mandatory refueling to 90 percent of capacity, so that carriers have more flexibility in supply. They also request that potential flight delays and cancellations due to fuel shortages be treated as "extraordinary circumstances", which would avoid the obligation to pay compensation to passengers.
In Spain, airport operator Aena has already contacted suppliers to assess supply capacity. Although the country has a relatively strong refinery infrastructure and the ability to cover needs independently, almost 30 percent of kerosene still comes from imports, which makes it partially vulnerable to global disturbances.
Analysts estimate that the European aviation sector will enter a period of great uncertainty in the coming months, in which the development of the situation in the Middle East will directly affect prices, fuel availability and the stability of air traffic across the continent.
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