Jet fuel shortages could hit in three weeks putting summer holidays at risk – London Business News | London Wallet

European airports could face widespread jet fuel shortages within three weeks if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz does not return to normal levels, according to a stark warning from ACI Europe, the continent’s airport industry body.

In a letter to EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the organisation said it had “increasing concerns” over fuel availability and urged Brussels to begin urgent monitoring and coordination of supplies across member states.

ACI Europe warned that if maritime flows through the Strait of Hormuz fail to recover “significantly and stably” within three weeks, a “systemic jet fuel shortage” could emerge across the European Union.

The alert comes amid sustained volatility in global energy markets following conflict-related disruption in the region, with jet fuel prices in north-west Europe more than doubling to around $1,573 per tonne, compared with pre-crisis levels of roughly $750, according to Argus Media.

While airlines currently report adequate stocks, fuel suppliers have warned that forward deliveries cannot be guaranteed beyond April, raising concerns over supply continuity heading into the peak summer travel season.

ACI Europe also criticised the absence of a unified EU-wide system for tracking jet fuel inventories, arguing that fragmented data leaves policymakers blind to emerging risks in a tightly balanced market.

The warning stops short of confirming immediate shortages, but suggests that disruption could quickly translate into operational constraints if shipping routes remain impaired. Airlines would likely respond first with capacity cuts and fare increases rather than outright cancellations.

Delta Air Lines has already moved to trim capacity by 3.5 per cent, while warning of an additional $2 billion in fuel costs over the next quarter. Other carriers, including Air New Zealand and Poland’s LOT, have also begun adjusting schedules and route networks.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically sensitive energy chokepoints, handling a significant share of global oil and refined fuel flows. Any prolonged disruption is therefore expected to have an outsized impact on aviation fuel markets, which depend heavily on steady global supply chains.

For now, officials stress that the situation remains a warning rather than a crisis—but one that could rapidly escalate if geopolitical conditions do not stabilise.