EUROPE has just six weeks of jet fuel left, the head of the International Energy Agency has warned as oil supplies remain blocked by the war in Iran.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said mass flight cancellations will begin “soon” if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
The head of International Energy Agency said Europe has just six weeks of fuel left Credit: Getty
Flight cancellations are coming if the strait remains closed Credit: Reuters
“In the past there was a group called ‘Dire Straits.’ It’s a dire strait now, and it is going to have major implications for the global economy”, he told AP .
Adding: “And the longer it goes, the worse it will be for the economic growth and inflation around the world.”
Oil prices have soared since the start of March after Iran closed off the Strait in response to US-Israeli forces bombing.
The Persian Gulf chokehold sees around 40 per cent of the world’s jet fuel supply pass through.
It comes after ACI Europe, which represents European airports, said the must open within three weeks or fuel reserves will run drastically low.
European airlines say fuel reserves should last for several weeks, but suppliers cannot guarantee deliveries into May.
The announcement comes as a number ofalready warned that they were running out of fuel.
According to local reports earlier this week, -Casale Airport confirmed that Jet A1 fuel was not available for a short period of time.
its service from to Jeddah in from April 24.
The airline had been operating a four flights a week service since November 2024.
But a shift in demand, due to the conflict in the Middle East, has led to the airline terminating the service.
And a to avoid spiralling costs.
is the latest to confirm that it would be cutting five per cent of flights – around 250 a month – in the second and third quarters of 2026.
With this set to last until the end of summer, it means thousands of passengers will be affected.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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