Fuel crisis could force European airlines into risky transition

Potential jet fuel shortages linked to the war in Iran could force airlines and airports to switch fuel types, creating new operational and safety risks across the aviation sector, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warned on Friday, May 8.

EASA alerted Europe’s aviation industry that disruptions in Middle Eastern supply chains could lead to shortages of standard aviation fuel within weeks, Euronews reports.

European airlines have already raised concerns, prompting the EU to consider contingency measures, including increased imports of jet fuel from the United States, where a different fuel specification is commonly used.

At the centre of the issue is a technical distinction between Jet A-1 and Jet A. Jet A-1, the standard fuel used across Europe, Africa, Australia, and much of Asia, has a lower freezing point than Jet A, which is primarily used in the United States and Canada. While both fuels are approved for many aircraft, European aviation systems — including infrastructure, procedures, and crew training — have been built around Jet A-1.

EASA emphasised that its guidance does not impose mandatory rules but serves as a coordinated warning to airlines, airports, fuel suppliers, and regulators. The agency sees no inherent safety issue with Jet A, noting its widespread daily use in North America. However, it warned that a mixed-fuel environment could introduce confusion and human-factor risks if not carefully managed.

In particular, EASA cautioned that crews or systems might assume an aircraft has been fuelled with Jet A-1 when it has actually received Jet A. Such errors could have “serious operational implications,” especially during long-haul, high-altitude flights over cold regions, where fuel freezing margins are critical.

The agency added that incorrect fuel information could lead flight crews to misjudge temperature limits, delay contingency responses, or operate outside safe parameters. It also highlighted the dangers of oversimplification, warning against the assumption that “jet fuel is jet fuel,” which could result from insufficient training or unclear fuel-grade communication.

To mitigate risks, EASA issued recommendations across the aviation fuel chain. Fuel suppliers are advised to maintain handling standards close to Jet A-1 procedures and ensure full traceability. Airports are urged to introduce clear fuel-grade markings, communicate any changes, and coordinate transitions among on-site suppliers.

Airlines are being encouraged to review pilot training, dispatch systems, flight-planning assumptions, and contingency procedures for operations involving Jet A. Operators should also notify crews when airports that traditionally supply Jet A-1 begin offering Jet A.

Aircraft manufacturers have been asked to reassess how mixed Jet A and Jet A-1 fuels behave in aircraft tanks, particularly regarding freezing characteristics and warning thresholds.

Despite the potential risks, EASA said the situation does not currently require new legislation or emergency directives. The guidance is intended as a temporary, precautionary response to evolving supply pressures, and the agency expects to reassess or withdraw it before the next winter season, depending on market conditions.

By Tamilla Hasanova