{"id":578464,"date":"2026-05-11T17:55:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T17:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/578464\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T17:55:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T17:55:09","slug":"jet-fuel-shortage-deepens-pressure-on-global-airlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/578464\/","title":{"rendered":"Jet Fuel Shortage Deepens Pressure on Global Airlines"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fewer passengers were heading to Heathrow Airport in April as the war in the Middle East keeps travellers grounded.<\/a><\/p>\n

Passenger numbers at Europe\u2019s biggest airport fell by five per cent in April to 6.7m with the blame being attributed to the \u201congoing impact of the Middle East conflict\u201d.<\/p>\n

For those heading to that particular region, Heathrow saw a whopping 50 per cent drop in volumes.<\/p>\n

Still, in the year-to-date (Jan\u2013Apr) traffic maintained modest growth at 1.2 per cent.<\/p>\n

Transfer demand grew ten per cent in April, as travellers rerouted through Heathrow to reach Asia and Oceania, helping offset losses in direct Middle Eastern travel.<\/a><\/p>\n

Travel to Asia remained a major growth driver, with a 5.6 per cent increase in April and a 10.6 per cent increase year-to-date.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know passengers want certainty when planning their hard-earned summer holidays, so we are supporting Government and airlines as they work through their plans to get passengers on their journeys,\u201d Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow\u2019s top boss<\/a>, said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jet fuel crisis \u2018worse\u2019 than Covid<\/p>\n

Growing anxieties around the jet fuel shortage caused by the Iran war have rocked the travel industry.<\/p>\n

Tony Fernandes, chief executive of Air Asia, said last week: \u201cI thought I\u2019d seen it all with Covid\u2009[\u2026]\u2009but having seen jet fuel go up almost three times \u2014 this is much worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

It comes after supplies for jet fuel have tumbled to their lowest level since records began, as the war blocks crucial shipping lanes for fuel.<\/a><\/p>\n

Spirit Airlines \u2013 a US-based low-cost airline \u2013 last week collapsed under mounting pressure caused by surging oil prices. The firm had failed to secure a $500m lifeline from the Trump administration, leaving it to go out of business and cancel all flights.<\/p>\n

Researchers at Allianz Trade warned the UK is among the most \u201cstructurally exposed\u201d<\/a> to jet fuel shortages.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, transport secretary Heidi Alexander has loosened \u201cuse it or lose it\u201d rules in a bid to soften the pressures facing airlines.<\/p>\n

Woldbye said: \u201cWhile we have seen some short?term disruption linked to the Middle East conflict, demand for travel remains strong with current fuel supplies stable.\u201d<\/p>\n

By City AM<\/a><\/p>\n

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com<\/p>\n

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