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Europe Faces Jet Fuel Shortage, Lufthansa Cancels 20,000 Flights

4/28/2026

50 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Italy’s Enac warned jet-fuel shortages could force flight cancellations while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency said on April 16 Europe has maybe six weeks of jet fuel left.
Willie Walsh of the International Air Transport Association predicted Europe may see cancellations by the end of May.
Lufthansa Group will cancel 20,000 short-haul flights through October to save over 40,000 t of fuel.

History

Historical Context

The October 1973 OAPEC oil embargo, launched to punish U.S. support for Israel, cut output and drove world oil prices up nearly 300%, sparking the first oil shock. That disruption forced airlines such as Lufthansa to slash schedules, a pattern echoed today as IATA chief Willie Walsh warns Enac’s jet-fuel shortage could cancel 20,000 flights.

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Story summary

Italy’s Enac warned jet-fuel shortages could force flight cancellations while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency said on April 16 Europe has maybe six weeks of jet fuel left.
Willie Walsh of the International Air Transport Association predicted Europe may see cancellations by the end of May.
Lufthansa Group will cancel 20,000 short-haul flights through October to save over 40,000 t of fuel.

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