Europe’s aviation industry has warned that a jet fuel crisis looms over the continent as the Strait of Hormuz remains under blockade.
The strait, which once served as the artery for international oil trade, has been under Iranian blockade since the US/Israeli war in Iran started on Feb. 28. Recent ceasefires reopened the strait temporarily before it was closed once more after Tehran accused Israel of violations in hitting Lebanon.
The Financial Times (FT) on Friday reported that ACI Europe, which represents EU airports, has sent a letter to the bloc’s transportation commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas warning of a “systemic jet fuel shortage” if the strait is not reopened within three weeks.
“If the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU,” the letter says, according to the FT.
The outlet said the Strait of Hormuz accounts for 40% of the global jet fuel supply.
The letter says the concerns were fueled by increased flights during the summer travel season and calls for “proactive EU monitoring and action,” the FT said.
“There is for now no EU-wide mapping/assessment and monitoring of jet fuel production and availability,” the letter says.
“A supply crunch would severely disrupt airport operations and air connectivity, with the risk of harsh economic impacts for the communities affected and for Europe in case of a systemic shortage of jet fuel,” it adds.
Citing multiple European airlines, the FT said most have reserves but future deliveries remain uncertain as the war in Iran and Hormuz blockade drag on. It said four Italian airports began restricting jet fuel last week “after disruption at a key supplier.”
US President Donald Trump has requested that NATO members help militarily to reopen the strait, a demand rebuffed by most allies, who sought their own solutions to reopen it.
On April 1, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hinted at ongoing work with European allies to assess options to reopen the strait, though it is unclear how far the assessment has progressed.
On Friday, April 10, Starmer said he discussed the options – both military and diplomatic – during a call with Trump but did not elaborate on the details, according to Reuters.
Europe has thus far ruled out easing sanctions on Russian oil despite the crisis, though a source within Kyiv’s intelligence agencies recently told Kyiv Post that Moscow is likely to leverage the Iran situation by instigating an energy crisis in Europe to bargain for sanctions relief.