Airlines Warn of Looming Aviation Fuel Shortages Amid Middle East Conflict
The International Air Transport Association (Iata), representing airlines globally, has issued a warning about potential shortages of aviation fuel in Europe and other regions. In a recent blog post, Stuart Fox, Iata’s director for Flight and Technical Operations, highlighted the growing pressure on global aviation fuel supply due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
“The recent pressure on the supply of aviation fuel globally due to the war in the Middle East has put a spotlight on something most passengers never think about: the fuel in the aircraft,” wrote Fox. “If the war continues, it won’t be long before we see fuel shortfalls in parts of the world.”
Fox suggested that the impact of potential shortages on airlines outside North America could be mitigated if they were permitted to use Jet A fuel instead of Jet A-1. The two fuels are nearly identical, with the primary operational difference being their freezing points. Jet A-1 has a lower maximum freezing point (minus 47°C) compared to Jet A (minus 40°C), providing aircraft using Jet A-1 with slightly more flexibility on long-haul and polar routes.
“European fuel supply could come under pressure if the war in the Middle East continues. Using Jet A, which is produced at scale outside the Gulf, could be a practical way to help ease some pressure on existing supply chains,” Fox explained. “This could give airlines facing a possible shortfall in fuel supply more options. Where applied, it will allow European carriers and airlines from other regions to operate in the same way as many in Canada do, where they switch between Jet A and Jet A-1 as part of seasonal operations.”
Meanwhile, IAG, the parent company of British Airways, has stated that the current fuel issue is more about price than availability. In a financial statement, the company said: “We are confident of jet fuel supply in our main markets throughout the summer. Today the situation is more about the price of fuel than availability.”
IAG’s chief executive, Luis Gallego, added: “We are actively managing the uncertainty created by the fuel price increase and its impact, taking the necessary action on yields, costs and capacity. We currently see no issues with fuel availability in our main markets.”
IAG, which also owns Aer Lingus of Ireland, and Iberia and Vueling of Spain, reported seeing “some softer demand in the eastern Mediterranean.”
Next week, Jet2 is offering return trips from London Stansted to Dalaman in Turkey for as little as £77 return. For more information, read our article on the 13,000 flights cancelled this summer and whether your holiday is at risk.
