Flight Cancellations in Europe Possible if Oil Supply Disrupts, Warns IEA Chief
Islamabad: Head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol has warned that disruptions in global oil supply could lead to jet fuel shortages in Europe, potentially resulting in flight cancellations.
In an interview with a news agency, Birol said that Europe currently has only about six weeks of jet fuel reserves left. He cautioned that if oil shipments are disrupted due to conflict involving Iran, European aviation could face severe operational challenges, including possible flight cancellations.
He further stated that a closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger one of the most significant energy crises in recent history. According to him, such a situation would likely lead to rising prices of petroleum, gas, and electricity worldwide.
Birol added that the impact would not be uniform, noting that Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, India, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh would be among the first to be affected due to their heavy reliance on Middle Eastern energy supplies. He said the effects would later extend to Europe and the United States.
