Spain’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy, Trade and Enterprise, Carlos Cuerpo, has warned that the prolongation of the conflict in Iran could raise new concerns regarding the availability of kerosene and aviation fuel, but has emphasised that Spain is less dependent on these supplies.
“If the impact and the war in Iran continue, then new concerns will indeed begin to arise, such as the availability of kerosene or aviation fuel,” the Economy Minister said in an interview with ‘Onda Cero’.
However, Cuerpo pointed out that Spain is less dependent in this regard, just as it is in other aspects of the energy sector.
“We import far less of that kerosene, partly due to our infrastructure and the refining capacity we have in our country, and this protects us more than other countries, as noted by the sector and the companies themselves,” he stressed. But this does not mean, according to Cuerpo, that the country cannot be affected by restrictions impacting companies outside Spain. “Therefore, once again, we must be aware of these transmission channels,” he emphasised.
As for tourism, the vice-president indicated that, in the short term, what has been seen during this Easter season is that the figures have remained good, even very good, with growth in areas such as the Canary Islands and Andalusia. ‘Therefore, in the short term, there is even a certain positive effect from the redirection of tourist flows that were heading, for example, to the Middle East or Turkey, which are now coming to a destination such as Spain,’ he remarked.
In the medium to long term, Cuerpo insisted that the focus must be on risk factors, although Spain has an additional buffer in terms of aviation fuel or kerosene. Indeed, the airport operator Aena clarified last week that, at present, there are no problems regarding fuel supply at Spanish airports, based on information provided by storage companies.
Furthermore, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez, emphasised that the sector is in a state of ‘stability’ amidst ‘immense uncertainty’ and with price rises on the horizon caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Also, at a press conference, the executive vice-president of Exceltur, Óscar Perelli, highlighted the need to monitor and guarantee the supply of fuel, and particularly ‘jet fuel’ – aviation fuel – at normalised prices.
The United Kingdom has joined France, Germany and Spain in warning that jet fuel shortages linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger flight disruptions and holiday chaos across Europe as early as May, adding fresh anxiety for travelers already facing higher fares and an uncertain summer schedule.
Airlines are simultaneously revising schedules and activating crisis playbooks. Reports indicate that carriers including Ryanair and easyJet have told passengers that delays and possible cancellations could materialise from early May if the current blockade persists. Some long haul operators have already begun trimming marginal routes, adding refuelling stops on fuel intensive sectors and tightening weight limits to conserve supplies.
European airlines have urged the European Union to step in with emergency measures to tackle repercussions from the Iran war, including widespread airspace closures and mounting concerns over jet fuel shortages, a document seen by Reuters showed. Industry group Airlines for Europe (A4E) has requested that the EU introduce a raft of crisis response measures, including EU-level monitoring of jet fuel supplies, a temporary suspension of the EU's carbon market for aviation, and scrapping certain aviation taxes, it said in the document.
The aviation sector has been hit by airspace closures since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency banning European airlines from operating in the airspace of several Gulf countries, including the UAE and Qatar until April 24. The sector is also staring at a jet fuel crunch after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Last week, industry group Airports Council International Europe (ACI) warned that Europe could face a systemic jet fuel shortage in three weeks.
The A4E document urged Brussels to consider joint EU purchasing of kerosene, which is a form of jet fuel. The EU introduced joint natural gas buying to attempt to shore up supplies, after Russia slashed gas deliveries to Europe in 2022. However, the model has not been applied to oil or kerosene so far. A4E, whose members include Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and easyJet, also urged the EU to amend its legal requirement for countries to maintain 90 days of emergency oil reserves as this currently does not include a specific requirement on jet fuel.
The document also asked for clarification on existing legislation, including confirmation that airspace closures due to conflict and resulting operational effects will be considered as justified non-use of slots. The European Commission has said it will propose a package of measures on April 22 to attempt to offset the fallout of the Iran war in energy markets, but has not confirmed if this will include specific measures on jet fuel.