FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The first fuel restrictions for flights at the airports of Bologna, Milan Linate, Treviso and Venice have begun. Air BP Italia, one of the main operators, has issued a "Notam", an aeronautical bulletin addressed to airlines, informing them that fuel restrictions will apply at the four airports for the next few days, until 9 April.
Priority in fuel supply, the company, part of British giant BP, explained, will be given to ambulance flights, government flights and flights lasting more than three hours. Distribution will be limited for all other flights.
Ryanair: "Supplies guaranteed until end of May"
"We do not foresee a fuel shortage in the short term, but the situation is evolving. Our fuel suppliers can currently guarantee supplies until mid-to-end of May."
This is what Ryanair has said, stating that "if the war in Iran ends soon, supplies will not be interrupted. However, if the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues until May or June, we cannot rule out risks to fuel supplies at some European airports."
"With fuel prices doubling in March, we expect all airlines to pass on these higher costs in the form of higher airfares after Easter and throughout the summer," the airline said. "We urge all passengers to book their flights (and holidays) as early as possible: this will protect them from the inevitable price increases for flights and accommodation after Easter and later in the summer."
Lufthansa echoes the alarm: "There are already difficulties at several airports in Asia.
Lufthansa is warning of possible disruptions in the availability of jet fuel if the conflict in the Middle East continues. In an interview with German newspaper Die Welt, Grazia Vittadini, head of technology and IT, stressed that "there are already difficulties at some airports in Asia."
Lufthansa has hedged 80% of its needs for 2026 through derivative contracts against price increases, but "the increase certainly has an impact on us as well," she admits.
How does aviation fuel supply work?
Planes run on kerosene, a type of fuel produced mainly in the Gulf countries affected by Iran's attacks. The EU imports half of its fuel from that area. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has halted jet fuel shipments from the Gulf, so it won't be long before the effects are felt in Europe.
Its absence will mainly affect costs. Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the start of the conflict, but the increase has not yet been reflected in flight prices because airlines tend to buy fuel well in advance, precisely to protect themselves from these kinds of fluctuations. There are exceptions: Air France-KLM has already introduced a surcharge of 50 euros for each ticket. Lufthansa has prepared an emergency plan that foresees the blocking of 30-40% of its fleet.
Apart from the Gulf countries, the world's largest producers of jet fuel are India and China, but in the face of the global crisis caused by the attack on Iran, these countries are starting to protect themselves and preserve reserves for their domestic market. Beijing, for example, has banned exports. Thus, paradoxically, European companies may be forced to increase their purchases from the US.
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