European airports could face widespread flight disruptions within weeks if supplies of jet fuel remain constrained due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, industry body ACI Europe has warned.
In a letter to EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, ACI Europe flagged “increasing concern” over tightening fuel supplies and called for urgent action to secure alternative sources and monitor the situation, Engineering and Technology reported.
The group cautioned that if shipping through the strait does not resume in a stable manner within the next three weeks, a broader jet fuel shortage could hit the European Union, potentially leading to large-scale flight cancellations, especially during the peak summer travel season.
Europe has become heavily dependent on jet fuel imports from the Middle East over the years, following the closure of older refineries and the rise of large-scale facilities in the Gulf. Key among them is the Al-Zour Refinery in Kuwait, one of the world’s largest, which relies on the strait to export fuel to Europe.
While some major hubs like Heathrow Airport maintain on-site storage, reserves typically cover only about a week of operations, leaving airports vulnerable to prolonged supply disruptions.
ACI Europe said existing reserves are running low and suppliers are unable to guarantee deliveries beyond the coming weeks, highlighting the region’s limited refining capacity and growing reliance on imports.
The situation has also renewed calls to accelerate production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can be made from waste and renewable sources such as used cooking oil and agricultural residue. However, current SAF technology can only partially replace conventional jet fuel, although new research is exploring ways to fully substitute fossil-based fuels in aviation.
Industry officials said the crisis underscores the need for greater energy security and diversification of fuel sources in Europe’s aviation sector.
