Europe may only have enough jet fuel for six weeks - IEA chief

Aviation fuel stocks in Europe may be left "for six weeks or so," Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, warned in an interview with the Associated Press. Amid the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iranian crisis, carriers that depend directly on energy exports from the region continue to face difficulties. Birol said flight cancelations could begin "in the near future" if oil supply problems persist.

"There used to be a band called Dire Straits, now it's really dire straits," the IEA head said, referring to a play on words (dire straits is an idiom meaning "dire straits," while at the same time strait is "strait").

The crisis, which Birol considers the largest in history, has already led to an increase in prices for gasoline, gas and electricity, with some regions suffering more than others, he believes. Earlier, the head of the IEA predicted that in April the oil deficit will be twice as high as in March.

EasyJet Airlines said on April 16 that conflict in the Middle East and rising fuel prices are putting pressure on its demand, with bookings for later dates down 2% from 2025. The low-cost carrier's shares collapsed by almost 9% on the London Stock Exchange.

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