How many flights have been canceled this summer? The European Union assures that it is safe from kerosene shortages at this point, but is preparing for all scenarios and may turn to American fuel “Jet A” to cope.
The war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to a spike in aviation fuel prices and concerns about potential shortages this summer.
On Friday, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) paved the way for the use of Jet A, a kerosene produced in the United States but not currently available in Europe for technical reasons.
“Jet A is used daily for flights departing from and within the United States and Canada. The possible introduction of Jet A in Europe or other regions of the world would not pose a security issue, provided that the introduction is properly managed,” said the agency, recommending not to mix fuels and to train teams properly.
The European Commission has also outlined measures available to optimize kerosene use in terms of aircraft refueling and airspace slot allocation.
In France, the government is reassuring that there is “no fear” of shortages in May and June and “probably little risk” thereafter, according to Economy Minister Roland Lescure.
Before the Middle East conflict, 20% of the kerosene consumed in Europe passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
With rising prices, several airlines, especially low-cost carriers, have announced flight cancellations.
At this point, it’s more of an economic problem due to fuel costs rather than availability, as highlighted by air transport specialist Matteo Mirolo.
But if the crisis persists, Brussels is preparing for potential supply issues. The European Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen mentioned that while there are no shortages yet, they could occur.
Last week, the Commission announced the establishment of a kerosene observatory to better monitor the situation.
The EU previously did not have a detailed view of the reserves of all twenty-seven member states. Some countries, like Ireland, may be more exposed due to limited refining capacity, while others like Finland appear to be better prepared.
In addition to concerns over fuel shortages, some airlines are taking advantage of the crisis to eliminate unprofitable routes.
The Commission has communicated the existing rules to ensure optimal kerosene use and minimize prices to states and airlines.
Flexibility is now allowed in “tankering,” where airlines fly with more fuel than needed to avoid buying more at an airport facing shortages.
The EU is also exploring the possibility of emergency stock releases and voluntary kerosene sharing among member states if the crisis persists.
The use of American Jet A fuel, which differs from Jet A-1 used elsewhere in the world, may be considered by the EU and some airlines are interested in using it more extensively this summer.
In the long term, Brussels is also emphasizing the development of aviation fuels that are non-fossil based (SAF).
Published on May 8 at 1:56 pm by AFP.
