EU warns airlines, states to prepare for all scenarios as jet fuel crisis persists

The European Commission warned on Monday that airlines and member states should prepare for all scenarios as the duration of the jet fuel crisis remains uncertain. “I don’t think anyone knows how long this situation will last, so the best we can do and the most effective thing that we can do and that we are doing is to prepare for all eventualities,” commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told a daily press briefing in Brussels. She said the EU executive is coordinating closely with member states, industry stakeholders, the International Energy Agency, and other relevant actors.

Guidance and technical recommendations

Itkonen said the commission has “full situational awareness” of fuel stocks and will issue guidance to airlines this week covering anti-tankering rules, passenger rights, and the possibility of using North American-type jet fuel in Europe. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency will provide technical recommendations on fuel types. Jet fuel prices in Europe have risen sharply due to the Middle East conflict and disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. EU refineries normally cover about 70% of the bloc’s demand, with the remainder imported from the Middle East and Gulf.

Impact on airlines

Several European airlines have already been affected by higher fuel costs. KLM announced it would cancel 160 intra-European flights this month. Lufthansa plans to halt operations at its CityLine subsidiary and cancel 20,000 short-haul flights through October. Low-cost carriers Ryanair and EasyJet, as well as tourism group TUI, have revised their year-end forecasts downward.