The head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Friday called on authorities to put “well-coordinated plans in place” in the event of jet-fuel rationing due to the Middle East war.
Willie Walsh said an assessment from the International Energy Agency that fuel for aircraft could start running out in Europe in six weeks’ time was “sobering”.
“We have also estimated that by the end of May, we could start to see some cancellations in Europe for lack of jet fuel. This is already happening in parts of Asia,” he said in a statement.
The projected aviation fuel shortage stemmed from Iran’s effective blockage of the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel started the war at the end of February, which spread across the Middle East.
Although Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday his country was now reopening the strait to commercial traffic, shipping companies are wary.
Walsh said in his statement issued before Iran’s announcement that, if jet fuel shortages occurred, “it’s important that authorities have well-communicated and well-coordinated plans in place in case rationing becomes necessary.”
Brussels, meanwhile, plans to propose “voluntary coordination” to redistribute jet fuel around Europe to avoid regional shortages, an official with knowledge of the matter told Euractiv.
Some countries have deeper reserves of jet fuel than others, but EU countries all agree that none should face shortages, the official added.
Brussels to propose ‘voluntary’ jet fuel sharing as shortages loom
The European Commission is set to urge EU countries to share jet fuel voluntarily as…
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