Europe’s airports are sounding alarm bells on fuel supply, saying they could run low on jet fuel in a matter of weeks, as the war in Iran wages on and oil shipments are impacted by the blocked Strait of Hormuz.
Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, representing 600+ airports facilitating more than 95% of commercial air traffic in Europe, issued the dire warning to EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
ACI EUROPE’S WARNING
As first reported in Financial Times, ACI Europe said “if the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, system jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU.”
ACI Europe’s warning comes as the spring travel season to Europe gets into full swing, and ahead of the peak summer travel months.
As many Canadians book away from the U.S., destinations in Europe – always popular from this market – have been seen as ideal options for Canadian travellers looking for 2026 getaways, and Europe has been selling extremely well.
“THE BIG TSUNAMI”
This isn’t the first time the airline industry has raised concerns about jet fuel supply amid the Iran war, however ACI Europe’s warning brings the supply crisis into sharper focus.
As reported earlier this week, aviation industry expert John Gradek told CTV News that while surcharges are frustrating for travellers, “the big tsunami we’re going to hit is going to be supply. We’re going to start running out of aviation fuel probably within the next week or so in various parts of the world.”
“Probably about 25 – 30% of the world’s aviation fuel does originate in the Middle East. So it is a significant impact on the airlines,” said Gradek, adding that countries in southeast Asia are especially at risk of shortages.
While domestic flights within Canada shouldn’t be impacted, return trips from international destinations could be challenged, he added. Flight routes could change or some international trips could be cancelled altogether, starting as soon as the middle of the month.
International travel, always strong from Canada, is a tear lately as Canadian travellers look for U.S. alternatives. As reported last month, the latest figures from StatCan showed that Canadian-resident return trips from overseas countries by air totalled 1.3 million in February 2026, up 7.2% from the same month one year earlier.
