Summer travel is at risk: some European countries are running out of jet fuel
10 April 14:13
The aviation fuel situation in Europe is more critical than previously reported. Since current aviation fuel stocks are expected to run out between the second and third weeks of May—including the final shipments arriving by sea from the Persian
, Europe’s strategic reserves risk proving insufficient to support flights during the height of summer in several regions.
This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" citing Corriere della Sera.
Only two countries have emergency jet fuel reserves for 90 days, while most would not survive a crisis lasting more than 30 days. Some countries have reserves sufficient for 8–10 days before they run out. Corriere learned this from three sources in the EU familiar with the situation.
Brussels hopes that the truce between the U.S. and Iran will hold, allowing tankers to resume passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The risk of a jet fuel shortage in Europe has gone from virtual to real in just a few days,” explains one source.
“Airports across the continent have been experiencing a jet fuel shortage for several days now, without officially reporting it,” claims another source.
The Corriere della Sera was able to review communications between jet fuel suppliers and airlines: some airports are reporting maximum loading limits (5,000 kilograms) per aircraft or the inability to refuel private jets in order to prioritize scheduled flights. Europe imports 43% of its annual aviation fuel needs from the Persian Gulf. Due to the ban on oil tankers in the region, the continent has faced a sharp drop in available volumes ahead of peak travel season.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that refining operations at European plants are already running at maximum capacity, so there is no physical ability to add additional production quotas this summer, three sources confirm. Thus, May is becoming a critical period. If no more ships arrive from the Persian Gulf, the withdrawal of jet fuel from strategic reserves may begin first, followed by the suspension of jet fuel supplies to airports in some countries. Several Eastern European countries, as well as some smaller countries in the western part of the continent, will have only a few days of availability.
Italy is reported to have reserves for 30–60 days. In an interview with the newspaper, Assaeroporti President Carlo Borgomeo stated that Italy will definitely have enough aviation fuel “until the end of May.” “I am very concerned about the current situation, also because there seems to be no sense of urgency in Brussels, nor even a hint of a clear direction,” one source admitted.
“We were told that strategic reserves are substantial, but only a small portion is allocated for aviation fuel,” the source noted.
In recent talks with EU officials, tanker owners made it clear that simply keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is not enough; the cost of tanker insurance must also be reduced. In addition, once transit resumes, it will take several weeks—including transit and transit time—before tankers can reach Europe with their cargoes of jet fuel. This could take two months.
Since the Middle East is currently unable to supply jet fuel to Europe, and Asia is keeping production at home despite its massive refining capacity, the only alternative for the Old Continent is the United States.
“But we need to see at what price and under what conditions,” sources emphasize.
In the coming days, Brussels will attempt to gather updated data on the actual amount of available jet fuel.
“Europe must develop a plan that takes into account any mitigation measures,” the sources conclude, “and that clearly defines how jet fuel should be distributed among countries.”
