TORONTO — The move by four of Italy’s airports – Venice (VCE), Milan Linate (LIN), Treviso (TSF) and Bologna (BLQ) – to implement jet fuel restrictions effective earlier this month may begin playing out in more European airports in the weeks to come, with serious impact for spring and summer travel, says one airline expert.

The airline industry is grappling with jet fuel supply concerns that are quickly turning into grave worries, as the U.S.-Israel war with Iran leaves the Strait of Hormuz, critical to the steady shipment of oil, in unpredictable waters.

In the Toronto Star, aviation industry expert John Gradek said the six-week warning from the IEA “really was running Europe dry. There will be areas in Western Europe that may run out earlier, in the next three to four weeks.”

Gradek added: “Getting from Canada to Europe is not going to be a problem. The problem might arise when you’re returning from Europe. You may believing from an airport that may have restrictions because they’re rationing fuel.”

He added: “It’s a very fluid situation. The crystal ball is pretty clouded today.”

Gradek also spoke with CBC News, about capacity cuts by Canada’s airlines and beyond.

In recent days Air Canada has announced the temporary suspension of a handful of routes. WestJet reduced capacity by about 1% in April, 3% in May and nearly 6% in June, by consolidating flights on lower demand routes and adjusting the travel period for seasonal offering. Air Transat has made a 6% reduction in planned capacity between May and October 2026. Meanwhile Lufthansa Group is cutting 20,000 flights this summer.

“This is just a start of airlines trying to really look at the future bookings they have for the summer,” Gradek told the CBC. “More and more flights are going to be looked at under the lens and potentially cancelled as a result of these high costs of fuel.”