Fuel
AINsight: Fuel Crisis Could Be Tough Test for Bizav
Charter operators incur sharps spike in fuel costs
Aero Friedrichshafen panel
During conference sessions at the Aero Friedrichshafen show, business aviation executives discussed the possible impact of fuel shortages. © Rafał Grad/Leon Software

Europe’s business aviation community likely never thought it would have to contemplate more existential threats than luxury taxes and decarbonization mandates. And then the Iran war’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz raised the all-too-real prospect of flights being grounded for lack of their lifeblood—jet fuel.

According to no lesser an authority than the International Energy Agency executive director, Fatih Birol, Europe could face chronic fuel shortages by the end of May. In the meantime, the price of jet-A has more than doubled in the region since the conflict started on February 28, driving up operating costs to levels that seem to challenge the limits of economic sustainability.