Türkiye has no jet fuel shortage, minister confirms

Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced on Wednesday that Türkiye is facing no jet fuel supply issues, as the country remains a net exporter of the commodity. Speaking to reporters after an Istanbul Chamber of Industry meeting, Uraloglu noted that while crude oil prices have risen more than 50% globally, jet fuel prices have more than doubled. Despite the sharp increase, Türkiye’s domestic production and export capacity have shielded the aviation sector from shortages.

Stranded aircraft and flight cancellations

The minister also addressed regional aviation disruptions caused by closed airspaces amid the Iran conflict. He confirmed that a Pegasus Airlines aircraft previously stranded in Iran returned to Türkiye on Tuesday, and authorities expect to bring back a Turkish Airlines plane from Iran by Thursday. Turkish carriers, including both airlines, have canceled flights to several regional countries until the end of May due to airspace closures. Uraloglu added that Türkiye is currently evaluating requests from Iran for flight permissions while prioritizing passenger safety.

Toll hikes not on agenda

Regarding potential increases in highway and bridge tolls, the minister said no additional hikes are currently on the agenda as the government monitors market stability. For Türkiye, which serves as a major transit hub for international aviation, maintaining jet fuel supply and managing flight disruptions are critical to both domestic connectivity and global air travel routes linking Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.