Airline Prepares Refuelling Stops as Jet Fuel Shortages Emerge from Iran Conflict

An airline is preparing contingency plans for refuelling stops on some flights as airports experience jet fuel shortages linked to the ongoing Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The company recently faced disruption when a Cape Town-bound aircraft carrying up to 290 passengers was unable to refuel on arrival in South Africa.

It was forced to divert around 900 miles to Windhoek, Namibia, before continuing its journey. The airline chief executive said the company is drawing up contingency plans in case shortages become more widespread. "If you cannot reach your target airport with the fuel that you’ve got then you have to do refuelling stops and we are not there yet, but we are preparing for this," he said.

The airline has already removed 20,000 short-haul flights from its summer schedule after kerosene prices more than doubled. It is also retiring older aircraft, pausing recruitment for non-flying roles and reviewing spending plans. The chief executive said there are currently no immediate supply bottlenecks but warned that availability can only be guaranteed for the next six weeks.

This makes planning beyond mid-June difficult. "Structural changes might have to be expanded if fuel prices stay so high," he said. It called on Brussels to allow the use of Jet A kerosene, which is standard in the United States but typically not permitted at European airports.

The company noted that the fuel's higher freezing point is less significant during warmer months. It is already used on some transatlantic return flights. The airline is also seeking changes to rules on fuel tankering, which allows aircraft to carry enough fuel for both outbound and return journeys.

The chief executive welcomed the UK Government’s decision to suspend “use it or lose it” slot rules and said similar measures should be introduced across the EU. The wider travel sector is preparing for potential disruption. A holiday firm confirmed it will offer same-day refunds for cancelled flights.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said there is currently no fuel shortage affecting UK airlines. “We continue to work with fuel suppliers, airports, airlines and international counterparts to keep flights operating,” a spokesman said.