The International Air Transport Association (Iata), the global representative body for airlines, has issued a warning about potential shortages of aviation fuel in Europe and other regions.
Iata's Warning
In a blog post, Stuart Fox, Iata's director for Flight and Technical Operations, wrote: "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." He added: "If the war continues, it won't be long before we see fuel shortfalls in parts of the world."
Mr 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 difference being their freezing points. Jet A-1 has a lower maximum freezing point of minus 47 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 40 degrees Celsius for Jet A. This gives aircraft operating on Jet A-1 greater flexibility on long-haul and polar routes.
He explained: "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. 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."
IAG's Perspective
Separately, IAG, the parent company of British Airways, stated in a financial report: "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, commented: "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, noted "some softer demand in the eastern Mediterranean."
Meanwhile, Jet2 is offering return flights from London Stansted to Dalaman, Turkey, for as little as £77. This comes amid a summer where around 13,000 flights have been cancelled, raising concerns about holiday plans.
