Air France is in the spotlight as European airport leaders warn that jet fuel shortages could hit the region if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen in the next three weeks. Airports Council International Europe says the pressure is growing fast as the summer tourism season approaches, with smaller airports seen as especially exposed. A UK government spokesperson said airlines have not reported disruption and continue to operate as normal.
Air France and the wider Europe network face a narrow window
Airports Council International Europe said its members have increasing concerns about jet fuel availability, pointing to the Gulf as a major source of aviation fuel and a supplier of about half of Europe’s imports. In a letter to European commissioners for energy and tourism, director-general Olivier Jankovec warned that a supply crunch would severely disrupt airport operations and air connectivity, with harsh economic impacts for communities across Europe.
Jankovec said that if passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in a significant and stable way within three weeks, a systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU. He also said relying on market forces and adaptation alone is not an option, and criticized the lack of EU-wide assessment and monitoring of jet fuel production and availability.
Passenger worries are rising as airlines watch the fuel market
Air France is part of a wider industry facing tighter scrutiny from passengers worried about cancellations and higher costs. Several airlines worldwide have already cut flights and raised passenger charges because of fuel concerns, while the benchmark European jet fuel price hit an all-time high last week of $1, 838 per tonne, far above $831 before the war began.
Airports Council International Europe is urging the EU to move on collective purchasing of jet fuel and wants temporary lifting of restrictions and regulations on importing jet fuel. In the same letter, the group said the crisis should also strengthen support for sustainable aviation fuel production and affordability.
Smaller airports could feel the pressure first
The warning is not only about major hubs. Airports Council International Europe said airports with fewer than a million passengers per year are already struggling with viability, even before any jet fuel shortage is added to the picture. Jankovec said the current crisis could make these airports more fragile and threaten local communities, with potential knock-on effects for European cohesion.
Air travel contributes €851bn to European economies’ GDP every year and supports 14 million jobs, underlining why even a short-lived disruption would carry wider consequences. For now, Air France and other carriers are being watched closely as the next three weeks could determine whether the summer season stays on track or becomes a period of sharper strain. The next move on Air France-linked travel pressures will depend on whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens in a stable way and whether EU officials step in before the risk turns into a wider shortage.
