Italy says aviation fuel reserves secure until end of May

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini has stated that the country has sufficient aviation fuel reserves to last until the end of next month, and that the situation remains under control.

According to ANSA, 50% of the aviation fuel supplying Italian airports is transported in transit through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been disrupted due to the war in Iran.

The official said that Italy’s current reserves guarantee the operation of airports at least until the end of May. Salvini added that Rome’s position is “stronger than that of most European countries” and that the country is not currently facing an aviation fuel shortage.

“We are not facing an emergency that threatens flight safety or the continuity of the system. The country is holding up because there are coordinated efforts,” the transport minister said.

The Iran war has raised concerns about the functioning of European airlines due to potential fuel shortages, as significant volumes have traditionally been supplied from the Middle East.