Airlines urge governments to prepare for jet fuel rationing

• Aviation industry warns Europe could face flight cancellations by late May due to jet fuel shortages.
• Disruptions linked to reduced supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz and rising global fuel prices.

Airlines are urging governments to prepare contingency plans for possible jet fuel rationing, warning that supply constraints could lead to flight cancellations across Europe by late May, according to a global aviation consortium.

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Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said governments should be ready with coordinated plans in case airports are forced to ration fuel.

“By the end of May we could start to see some cancellations in Europe for lack of jet fuel,” Walsh said, adding that similar disruptions are already emerging in parts of Asia.

Supply pressure and market shock

The warning follows an assessment by the International Energy Agency that Europe may have only about six weeks of jet fuel remaining before facing shortages.

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Walsh described the outlook as “sobering,” highlighting the growing strain on global aviation supply chains.

Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled during the course of the war involving Iran, intensifying pressure on airlines already managing higher operational costs.

Strait of Hormuz disruption impact

Industry experts link the tightening supply to reduced flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy transport.

Around 20 percent of the world’s jet fuel typically passes through the strait, with a majority of that supply directed to Europe, according to data provider Kpler. The United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands are among the most exposed to disruptions.

Airlines begin adjusting schedules

Although the United States remains less directly exposed to regional supply shocks, the global nature of fuel pricing means carriers worldwide are affected.

Several airlines, including United Airlines, have already begun adjusting or cancelling summer routes to offset rising fuel costs, reflecting growing uncertainty across the aviation sector.