Fuel rationing is in effect at seven Italian airports and disruptions are spreading across the UK and Southeast Asia after Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered a global jet fuel crisis, cutting off roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply and forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights and raise fares in early April 2026.
Air BP Italia issued emergency notices restricting refueling at Bologna, Milan Linate, Venice Marco Polo, Treviso, Brindisi, Pescara, and Reggio Calabria airports, with caps as low as 2,000 litres per aircraft for non-priority short-haul flights.
The restrictions follow the United States and Israel launching a widespread bombing campaign against Iran on February 28, after which Iran effectively closed the Strait to most traffic.
On a single Monday in early April, nearly 7 percent of all global flights — 7,049 of 104,618 scheduled routes — were canceled, including 14.6 percent of all departures from North America.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes, and its near-total closure has sent jet fuel prices to levels not seen in years. According to the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index, the price per gallon reached $4.88 on April 2, putting the cost per barrel at nearly $205. Average airfares for the week beginning March 9 were up 24 percent compared to the same week in 2025, according to travel data provider OAG, with the average ticket price reaching $465 — the highest for that period since at least 2019.
Airports with active fuel restrictions
In northern Italy, Air BP Italia’s emergency NOTAMs impose strict fuel caps through at least April 9. Bologna (BLQ) and Venice Marco Polo (VCE) are capped at 2,000 litres of uplift per non-priority aircraft, with pilots flying into Venice advised to refuel before arrival. Treviso (TSF) carries a 2,500-litre cap.
Milan Linate (LIN) has restrictions in place for non-priority flights. In southern and central Italy, Brindisi, Pescara, and Reggio Calabria joined the list on April 6, following similar disruptions that began two days earlier at the northern airports.
Priority status has been granted to medical flights, state aircraft, and long-haul flights of three hours or more. Short-haul operators face the hardest constraints, with airlines resorting to fuel tankering — carrying extra fuel from departure airports — to offset restrictions, a practice that adds weight, reduces efficiency, and increases costs.
Beyond Italy, the United Kingdom is among the most exposed countries in Europe. Guernsey-based carrier Aurigny has already canceled flights from mid-April through early June. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary warned of broader summer disruptions.
“Of all the European countries at the moment, the one that is most vulnerable is the UK because of the market share that the Kuwaitis have here,” said Michael O’Leary. He predicted cancellations of 5 to 10 percent of flights if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed through summer. In Southeast Asia, where carriers depend heavily on Gulf-sourced fuel, Vietnam Airlines said it could cut between 10 and 20 percent of its flights if jet fuel prices reached $160–200 per barrel — a threshold already surpassed as of early April.
Airlines cut schedules and raise costs
United Airlines became the first major U.S. carrier to formally reduce its schedule in response to the crisis. CEO of United Airlines, Scott Kirby, said the airline would begin “tactically pruning flying that’s temporarily unprofitable in the face of high oil prices,” cutting approximately 5 percent of planned routes during the second and third quarters of 2026. Three percentage points of cuts will target off-peak periods, including midweek and red-eye flights, while one percentage point will come from reduced service at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. “We have to raise prices to deal with higher fuel prices,” added Scott Kirby.
Delta Air Lines has already logged a $400 million charge due to rising fuel costs, and U.S. airlines collectively face billions in additional expenditure this year if the situation does not improve. JetBlue announced a baggage fee increase in early April, citing “rising operating costs.”
Air New Zealand said it would cut 1,100 flights through early May. Scandinavian group SAS announced the cancellation of 1,000 flights in April. Some foreign carriers have begun charging fuel surcharges of as much as $150 per ticket.
European carriers have so far maintained operations, but the outlook for May is uncertain. easyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis offered a cautious assessment of near-term supply. “I’m confident for a week or two that we’re all good. I’m probably confident that we’re good for three weeks,” said Kenton Jarvis, CEO, easyJet.
Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith said the airline group is “drawing up scenarios” on how it will deal with fuel shortages, identifying airports in Southeast Asia as being at heightened risk. KLM confirmed there is currently no direct fuel shortage affecting its schedule.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr outlined two contingency scenarios to staff: a near-term reduction of 20 aircraft, cutting seat capacity by 2.5%, or a more severe grounding of 40 aircraft, representing a 5% capacity reduction.
Industry group BARIN in the Netherlands said Dutch-based carriers are not yet facing shortages, but warned that intercontinental routes would likely be cut first if conditions deteriorate, with long-haul flights of 11 to 13 hours the most vulnerable. Ships transporting jet fuel that departed before the conflict began have now reached Asia, raising fears that the current supply buffer could run low within weeks.
