Europe Has Only Six Weeks of Jet Fuel Left Due to Iran War, Energy Chief Warns

Apr 16, 2026

Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, has issued an urgent warning that Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel supply remaining as of April 2026 due to disruptions caused by the Iran war and blockages at the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit route. The IEA chief warns that flight cancellations across Europe will begin soon if oil supplies from the Middle East are not restored within the coming weeks. The crisis highlights Europe's vulnerability to Middle Eastern oil supply disruptions and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz for global energy security.

Europe's Jet Fuel Supply Crisis

▪Europe has only six weeks' supply of jet fuel left as of April 2026.
▪Europe's jet fuel shortage is caused by the Iran war.

Impact on Air Travel and Flight Operations

▪Flight cancellations in Europe will occur soon if oil supplies from the Middle East are not restored within the coming weeks.
▪Fatih Birol warned that flight cancellations will occur soon if oil supplies are not restored.

Perspective of Fatih Birol and the International Energy Agency

▪The six-week jet fuel supply timeline represents a critical threshold for European energy security.
▪The disruption of oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz threatens Europe's aviation sector with imminent operational collapse.