A global fuel shortage linked to tensions near the Strait of Hormuz could lead to fewer flights and higher travel costs.
Record hike in gas prices fuels U.S. consumer inflation in March
Consumer prices rose sharply in March for the first time in about four years as crude oil prices soared due to the war with Iran and tariffs continued to be passed on.
- A global oil shortage caused by the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt summer travel.
- European airports are warning of a general shortage of jet fuel that could affect flight operations within weeks.
- Some international airlines have already canceled flights, and U.S. airlines may also reduce their schedules if the situation continues.
If you’re heading abroad for vacation this summer, you may need to prepare for some disruption.
The International European Airports Council, a trade group for airfield operators, has warned that the global oil shortage caused by the Iran war could start impacting flight operations within weeks.
“(A) systemic jet fuel shortage is becoming a reality for the EU,” the group’s letter to the EU’s Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism said, as reported by CNBC. The letter also warned that summer travel in Europe could be affected.
Ticket prices for most U.S. airlines have not yet been affected, but the lack of supply is already pushing up fuel costs and some airlines are raising fees for things like checked baggage.
In addition to rising prices, experts have warned that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has already cut off about 20% of the world’s oil supplies, could lead to even deeper cuts in flight schedules, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
“We are currently in a global jet fuel shortage,” Giacomo Santangelo, a senior lecturer in economics at Fordham University, told USA TODAY. He noted that airlines such as SAS and Air New Zealand have already canceled flights, and US-based United Airlines has indicated it could cut its flight schedule by up to 5% in the third quarter if fuel prices do not fall and supply increases.
When the Trump administration took office, force your own blockThe closure of the already closed strait makes it increasingly likely that a global oil shock will be prolonged.
“The last time we had a situation like this was in the 1970s,” Santangelo said. “I don’t want to sound like something exists, but in the 1970s there was gasoline rationing.”
Diane Merians Penaloza, a lecturer at the City University of New York School of Professional Studies, previously told USA TODAY that a prolonged energy crisis could significantly reduce global air travel.
“If the Strait of Hormuz were to close for the next 12 to 18 months, the number of available seats worldwide would be reduced by 30 seats, perhaps 40%,” he said.
Santangelo said there is so much uncertainty surrounding the global fuel market that travelers should prepare for possible disruptions and flight cancellations during the summer holidays.
“You have to be flexible. You have to understand. Don’t stick to your schedule. It’s subject to change,” he said.
While airlines have historically prioritized domestic flights that depart multiple times a day in case of cancellations rather than cutting back on long-haul flights, Santangelo cautioned that there is no guarantee that the same pattern will continue in the current crisis, especially when airlines are unsure whether they will be able to refuel at overseas airports to operate flights back to the United States.
“This is a unique situation that we haven’t experienced in a long time, so I can’t say how much confidence we can have that this type of behavior will continue in the future,” he said.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and can be reached at zwichter@usatoday.com.
