AIRPORTS in Europe are at risk of running out of fuel in just weeks, experts have warned, sparking fears for half term holidays.
The conflict in Iran continues to cause chaos across the world, with the latest seeing President Donald Trump slam the regime for breaking the short-lived ceasefire.
This came after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz just hours into a two-week ceasefire agreement.
Travellers are now being warned that flights could be cancelled and prices could soon rise as fuel reserves are expected to run out due to ongoing closure.
And it could mean chaos for Brits heading abroad for the school May half-term holidays.
According to ACI Europe (the lobby group for airports in Europe), fuel reserves are expected to run out in less than three weeks unless the Middle East increases supplies.
ACI Europe warns: “If the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality.”
It added that the shortage of fuel supply is likely to “severely disrupt airport operations and air connectivity”.
Around 140 ships usually pass through the Strait of Hormuz – yet has dropped to just seven ships today.
For Brits, this could mean travel chaos for May half-term getaways including popular destinations such as Spain, Italy and France.
The announcement comes as a number of airports in Italy already warned that they were running out of fuel.
According to local reports earlier this week, Brindisi-Casale Airport confirmed that Jet A1 fuel was not available for a short period of time.
While this didn’t result in any flight cancellations, airlines were warned to fly with enough fuel for the return journey.
This is because any remaining fuel was being reserved for emergency situations including medical flights.
A statement said at the time: “Jet A1 fuel is temporarily unavailable at Brindisi Airport.
“Refueling is permitted only for state, emergency medical services, and medical flights.
“Pilots are advised to refuel at previous stopovers to cover subsequent flights.”
Restrictions were also in place at other airports in Italy including Milan Linate, Venice, Bologna and Venice temporarily.
Despite this, Antonio Maria Vasile, president of Aeroporti di Puglia, commented regarding the news of the alleged fuel shortage.
He said at the time: “Fuel supplies continue regularly, and there is no risk of an imminent shortage.”
And it isn’t just Italian airports being hit by the fuel crisis.
The Australian government has warned that the country only has around 30 days of jet fuel left.
The announcements also come as some Asian countries are grounding flights and European airlines are making plans to deal with shortages.
Back in March, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said: “It’s entirely possible that parts of Asia are just going to run out of fuel.”
Both Scandinavia’s SAS and Poland’s Lot have already cancelled flights.
Air New Zealand has cancelled thousands of flights due to fears of fuel shortages.
And UK airline Skybus announced that it was stopping all flights between Cornwall and London due to a huge rise in fuel costs and a drop in new passenger bookings.
The Sun’s Head of Travel explains more…
Lisa Minot, the Sun’s Head of Travel, has weighed in on what this could mean for you holiday
Fears of fuel shortages at European airports could lead to a disastrous start to summer putting holidays and flights at risk in the popular half term week.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary had already started to raise his concerns – saying last week that if the war continues beyond the end of April it could impact between ten and 25per cent of the low cost giant’s fuel supplies.
But the fresh warning from European airports is a step up in the crisis.
Unless ships start to pass through the Strait of Hormuz with increased regularity, we could see fuel shortages at airports across the globe.
We’ve already started to see cancellations, with flights to Guernsey operated by Aurigny and to Newquay by Skybus axed in concerns over fuel shortages.
Further afield, Vietnam and Pakistan have warned of fuel shortages and Air New Zealand has begun cancelling some domestic flights.
The lack of clarity as to when the situation will improve will do nothing to calm fears and it is unsurprising that travel companies and airlines have seen demand dip as worried holidaymakers await better news.
The longer the situation remains uncertain, the more damage is done.
Even Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, has also warned of “the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June” unless the war ends quickly.
Fuel prices have soared compared to what they were before the war in the Middle East broke out.
Last week, the cost of filling up an average diesel tank broke through the £100 mark for the first time since December 2022.
And the Iran conflict has taken Dubai off the holiday list, with the UK Foreign Office still warning against non-essential travel.
Hundreds of thousands of travellers were left stranded abroad when the conflict resulted in airspace closures and Dubai Airport closing.
While limited flights have returned, most airlines are still axing flights to Dubai, as well as other destinations in the Middle East.
This has also had a knock-on effect of airlines that travel via the Middle East, such as Thailand, Vietnam and Australia.
British Airways has axed more flights to the Middle East this week as the crisis continues.
And some airlines are even hiking the cost of baggage due to rising fuel costs.