Europe’s Jet Fuel Imports and Canada’s Self-Sufficiency
- European airlines could face a jet fuel shortage by June if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, the International Energy Agency warned.
- The warning comes as the waterway has essentially been closed since the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel began on February 28, 2026, disrupting the usual...
- Several European countries may start to face shortages of jet fuel in the next six weeks, depending how much they are able to import from international markets to...
European airlines could face a jet fuel shortage by June if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, the International Energy Agency warned.
The warning comes as the waterway has essentially been closed since the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel began on February 28, 2026, disrupting the usual flow of jet fuel supplies to Europe.
Several European countries may start to face shortages of jet fuel in the next six weeks, depending how much they are able to import from international markets to replace the lost supply from the Middle East, which accounted for 75 per cent of Europe’s net imports of jet fuel previously.
The International Energy Agency, in an e-mail to The Globe and Mail on Thursday
Lufthansa and KLM have said they plan to cut flights in the coming months owing to high fuel prices, while Nigerian airlines threatened to stop flying altogether by April 20, 2026.
European refiners have been unsuccessfully “scrambling” to replace the lost supply with fuel from U.S. Sources ahead of the busy summer travel season.
The International Energy Agency
Sky-high prices for physical barrels reveal the real turmoil in oil markets, the IEA noted in its report.
Canada is largely self-sufficient in jet fuel, producing 80 per cent of its needs, and importing much of the rest from refineries in the U.S. Northeast.
However, Canadian airlines could see their routes affected by shortages overseas.
John Gradek, who teaches aviation leadership at McGill University
An overseas shortage of jet fuel would spur Canadian airlines to consolidate flights because they cannot carry enough fuel for return trips.
John Gradek, who teaches aviation leadership at McGill University
The carriers said on Thursday they haven’t changed any schedules yet, but the potential for disruption remains as European refiners struggle to secure alternative supplies.
The situation underscores the vulnerability of global aviation fuel supply chains to geopolitical disruptions in key maritime chokepoints.