Europe could run out of jet fuel in 6 weeks, IEA chief tells AP [View all]

Source: CNBC

Published Thu, Apr 16 2026 7:22 AM EDT Updated 5 Min Ago


The International Energy Agency’s head warned Thursday that Europe maybe has six weeks left of jet fuel as the airline industry continues to grapple with headwinds due to the Middle East crisis.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the Strait of Hormuz blockade will result in “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,” in an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday.

“In the past there was a group called ‘Dire Straits.’ It’s a dire strait now, and it is going to have major implications for the global economy. And the longer it goes, the worse it will be for the economic growth and inflation around the world,” he said.

He added that the broader economic impact includes “higher petrol (gasoline) prices, higher gas prices, high electricity prices,” with some parts of the world “hit worse than the others.”

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/16/europe-jet-fuel-shortage-6-weeks-iea.html