EU Jet Fuel Supplies Only Enough for “Weeks,” IEA Warns

Europe’s aviation sector is facing mounting pressure as jet fuel inventories are sufficient for only around six weeks, according to the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), in remarks that underscore growing fears of a wider energy shock triggered by disruptions linked to the Iran conflict.

Speaking in an interview with the Associated Press, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that continued supply interruptions could soon force flight cancellations if crude oil flows remain constrained.

Birol described the unfolding situation as “the most severe energy crisis we have ever faced,” pointing to widespread disruptions across oil, gas, and other critical energy supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping chokepoint.

He cautioned that the crisis is already translating into rising costs across transport and utilities, with gasoline, gas, and electricity prices all under upward pressure. “No country is immune,” he said, adding that while the impact will be uneven, developing economies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are likely to be hit hardest.

According to Birol, more than 110 oil tankers and over 15 liquefied natural gas carriers are currently stalled in the Gulf region, and while their movement could help ease shortages, he stressed that this would not be sufficient to fully stabilize global supply conditions.

The IEA chief also warned that damage to more than 80 energy facilities in the region could delay recovery efforts significantly. He said restoring production to pre-conflict levels could take up to two years, cautioning against expectations of a rapid rebound.

Without a sustained resolution and the full reopening of key maritime routes, Birol warned that Europe may soon begin seeing disruptions to aviation schedules as jet fuel shortages tighten across major hubs.