EU Aviation Warns of Systemic Jet Fuel Shortage Amid Hormuz Blockade

The European airport industry has issued a stark warning that the EU faces a systemic jet fuel shortage within three weeks if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. ACI Europe, representing airports across the European Union, alerted EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas that a supply crunch would disrupt airport operations and air connectivity just as the peak summer travel season approaches. The crisis stems from the ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S. and Israel, which began on February 28. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for approximately 20% of global oil supplies—has pushed Brent and WTI crude prices toward the $100 per barrel threshold, with WTI recently trading at $98.27 and Brent at $96.02. The financial impact on the aviation sector is already severe. Jet fuel prices surged 103% month-on-month in March, with U.S. prices jumping from $2.50 per gallon on February 27 to $4.88 per gallon by April 2. ACI Europe emphasizes the macroeconomic stakes, noting that air connectivity contributes approximately €851 billion to European GDP and supports 14 million jobs. Major carriers are already reacting to the volatility. Scandinavian airline SAS has cancelled 1,000 flights for April, while Ryanair is weighing capacity reductions for the summer. Lufthansa is developing contingency plans that may include grounding aircraft to manage the energy shock, highlighting the potential for widespread disruption to European air travel.