European airlines could use US-grade Jet A fuel to ease possible shortages as Middle East disruption strains Jet A-1 supplies, aviation bodies say.
European airlines could use US-grade jet fuel to reduce the risk of shortages if the war involving the US, Israel and Iran continues to disrupt fuel flows from the Middle East, aviation and EU officials have indicated.
The International Air Transport Association has said broader acceptance of Jet A, the fuel grade commonly used in North America, could help ease pressure on European supply chains. The European Aviation Safety Agency has issued guidance on how such fuel could be introduced safely, and the EU has said there are no “regulatory obstacles” to its use in Europe if it is properly managed and communicated through the supply chain.
The issue matters because Jet A-1, the fuel grade used in most international aviation, has become more strained since the conflict began. The price of the jet fuel most European airlines use has risen by about half since the start of the war, and supplies from the Gulf region have slowed sharply, according to the source report.
Jet A and Jet A-1 are both kerosene-based fuels and are broadly similar, but they are not identical. Jet A-1 has a lower freezing point, which makes it more flexible for long-haul and polar routes. Jet A is widely produced in North America, while many US refineries are not set up to produce Jet A-1, limiting how much of the standard European grade can be shipped across the Atlantic.
Stuart Fox, IATA’s director of flight and technical operations, warned in a blog post that if the Middle East conflict continues, “it won't be long before we see fuel shortages in some parts of the world.” He said using Jet A, which is made at scale outside the Gulf, could be a practical way to ease pressure on supply chains.
EASA’s safety information bulletin said a potential introduction of Jet A in Europe or elsewhere “would not generate safety concerns provided that its introduction is properly managed.” But the agency also cautioned that poor management could leave an aircraft operating outside safe limits, especially if airports have inconsistent fuel-grade availability and crews or suppliers make mismatched assumptions about what fuel is being used.
The EU said there is no rule requiring either fuel grade and no barrier to importing Jet A into Europe, provided its use is safely managed throughout the fuel supply chain.
British Airways owner IAG said it currently had no fuel availability problems in its main markets, but warned that continued restrictions on crude oil and jet fuel flows from the Middle East could eventually restrict aviation fuel supplies globally. The next question for airlines, regulators and suppliers is whether the conflict keeps disrupting Gulf fuel exports long enough to force wider operational changes in Europe.
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