European carriers seek emergency measures over Iran war disruptions

European airlines have urged the European Union to introduce emergency measures to address the repercussions of the Iran war, including widespread airspace closures and growing concerns over potential jet fuel shortages, a document seen by Reuters confirmed.

Industry group Airlines for Europe (A4E) has called for a range of crisis-response actions, including EU-level monitoring of jet fuel supplies, a temporary suspension of the bloc’s carbon market for aviation, and the removal of certain aviation taxes, the document said.

The aviation sector has been significantly affected by airspace closures since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has banned European airlines from operating in the airspace of several Gulf countries, including the UAE and Qatar, until April 24.

The industry is also facing the risk of a jet fuel shortage following disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz. Last week, Airports Council International Europe (ACI) warned that Europe could face a systemic jet fuel shortage within three weeks.

The A4E document urged Brussels to consider joint EU purchasing of kerosene, a form of jet fuel.

The EU previously introduced joint natural gas purchasing to stabilise supplies after Russia reduced gas deliveries to Europe in 2022. However, such a mechanism has not yet been applied to oil or kerosene.

A4E, whose members include Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and easyJet, also called on the EU to amend its requirement for countries to maintain 90 days of emergency oil reserves, noting that it does not currently include a specific provision for jet fuel.

The group further requested clarification of existing legislation, including confirmation that airspace closures due to conflict—and resulting operational disruptions—should be treated as justified non-use of airport slots.

The European Commission has said it will propose a package of measures on April 22 aimed at mitigating the impact of the Iran war on energy markets, although it has not confirmed whether specific measures for jet fuel will be included.

By Vafa Guliyeva