European airports have warned the region could face a “systemic” jet fuel shortage in three weeks if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
In a letter to the European Commission on Thursday (9 April), the Airports Council International Europe (ACI) said a fuel crunch would "significantly harm the European economy” and exacerbate the macro-economic impact of increasing oil prices.
ACI Europe urged EU transport and energy commissioners to urgently monitor jet fuel availability and supply, warning that a widespread jet fuel shortage “is set to become a reality for the EU” if passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume “in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks”.
According to ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec, a meeting of the European Commission's oil coordination group this week revealed there is currently no comprehensive EU-wide mapping, assessment or monitoring of jet fuel production and availability.
The association called for EU jet fuel production and supply to be included in the upcoming EU Aviation Strategy and Sustainable Tourism Strategy in order to “safeguard” European air connectivity.
Additionally, the association stated the current oil and energy crisis is an opportunity to reinforce support for the production and affordability of alternative aviation fuels (also known as ‘sustainable’ aviation fuel or SAF), “especially considering that the price of conventional jet fuel is likely to remain at higher levels in the medium to long-term”.
“Additional support for SAF is also about strategic autonomy – which the current crisis is even more bringing to the fore,” ACI Europe said.