Europe has ‘maybe six weeks of jet fuel left’, warns energy boss

Europe has “maybe six weeks or so” of remaining jet fuel supplies, according to the head of the International Energy Agency, if supplies remain blocked amid the war in Iran.

IEA executive director Fatih Birol said flights would be cancelled as “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced” continues, reported AP.

Dutch carrier KLM was the latest carrier to announce cancellations because of the rising costs of fuel, following cuts revealed by Lufthansa.

KLM said on Thursday (April 16), that it has made “a number of adjustments” to its flight schedule for the coming month.

“This concerns a limited number of flights within Europe that, due to rising kerosene costs, are currently no longer financially viable to operate,” said the airline statement.

“There is no kerosene shortage. KLM will operate 80 fewer return flights to and from Schiphol, which is less than 1% of its European flights during that period.

“Passengers affected by these changes will be rebooked onto the next available flight. As these are destinations KLM serves multiple times a day – such as London and Düsseldorf – travellers can usually be accommodated quickly.

“KLM expects a busy May holiday period and is making sure passengers can travel to their holiday destinations as planned.”

Birol told AP that nearly 20% of the world’s traded oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Iran, in peacetime and warned that not reopening the waterway within weeks could compound the repercussions for global energy supplies.

“In Europe, we have maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,” he said. “If we are not able to open the Strait of Hormuz ... I can tell you soon we will hear the news that some of the flights from city A to city B might be cancelled as a result of lack of jet fuel.”

Elsewhere, the UK and France will chair a meeting with allies on Friday (April 17) to discuss joint efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will arrive in Paris later this morning to co-host a virtual meeting of the Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative. About 40 countries are expected to join the summit, said the government.

“The leaders will focus on supporting the fragile ceasefire in the region and ensure shipping routes are reopened and secured through the Strait for the long term, complementing ongoing diplomatic efforts to reinforce peace,” said the government in a statement.

The BBC also reported that Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK is not facing an immediate shortage of petrol, diesel or jet fuel.

Her comments came after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) advised countries to consider managing energy demand through measures such as subsidising public transport or working from home, to combat the crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.