Planes could possibly be grounded in weeks as airport bosses warn of ‘systemic’ gas wipeout
Airport bosses have warned of a major jet fuel shortage that could ground flights in three weeks if the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is not lifted soon
A major fuel shortage is threatening to ground flights(Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Holidaymakers are facing a summer of travel hell as airport chiefs warn that jet fuel supplies could run dry in just three weeks. A major shortage is looming over the aviation industry, threatening to ground flights just as the peak holiday season kicks off.
The crisis has been sparked by the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for the world’s oil.
The Airports Council International (ACI), which represents more than 600 airports, has fired off a desperate letter to EU chiefs warning that the clock is ticking. With Iran choking off the passageway for the last six weeks, reserves are plummeting.
Airport bosses fear that if the route isn’t fully operational by the end of the month, suppliers will no longer be able to guarantee deliveries into May.
In the letter, ACI director-general Olivier Jankovec said: “At this stage, we understand that 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.”
He added: “The fact that we are entering the peak summer season…is only adding to those concerns.”
Despite a fragile ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump, the waterway remains a no-go zone. Iran has reportedly threatened to destroy any vessel that refuses to pay a staggering $2 million toll per journey.
The blockade has sent global oil prices into orbit, sparking fears of economic meltdown. Currently, 20 per cent of the world’s oil flows through the Strait and the chokehold has exposed how desperately dependent Europe is on Middle Eastern imports.
Michael O’Leary, boss of Ryanair, has already sounded the alarm. He warned that if the conflict persists, there is a serious risk of “disruptions in Europe in May and June.”
He said: “Maybe 10 per cent, 20 per cent, 25 per cent of our supplies might be at risk.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has travelled to the Gulf for emergency talks to salvage the peace deal and find a practical plan to get ships moving again without bowing to Tehran’s ransom demands.
The ACI is now demanding the European Commission urgently monitor fuel stocks for the next six months and slash red tape to make importing easier.
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist for Wealth Club, warned that even if the war ends today, the damage is done.
She said: “Carriers have had to deal with a more than doubling of fuel costs since the conflict erupted and the threat of shortages lingers…airlines are likely to continue to pass on the cost to passengers for the foreseeable future.”
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