Europe Faces Aviation Fuel Crunch, Lufthansa Grounds 27 Planes

According to the head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, Europe is facing a growing problem. Supplies of aviation fuel may last only about six weeks, the newspaper Bild reports.

If tensions in the Middle East escalate further and oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz remain restricted, the impact could extend beyond energy prices to air transport itself. Birol warned that flight cancellations could not be ruled out in the event of a prolonged disruption.

Lufthansa is already preparing for a potential crisis. The German carrier will ground 27 aircraft from its regional subsidiary CityLine and plans to retire six long-haul aircraft by the end of the summer.

The airline attributes the move to rising fuel costs and labor disputes. However, it has also outlined a crisis scenario in which up to 40 older aircraft could be scrapped if kerosene supplies become constrained. The result could be higher ticket prices, reduced connectivity and, consequently, increased pressure on the European economy.

(pir)