The European Union is exploring emergency measures to safeguard aviation fuel supplies, as the ongoing war involving Iran continues to disrupt oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the EU's jet fuel normally passes. Speaking after a video conference with transport ministers of all 27 member states, EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said on Tuesday that there is currently no shortage in Europe, but that the risk is growing as the peak summer travel season approaches. Several airlines have already suspended routes due to soaring fuel costs.
Among the measures under consideration, the European Commission plans to establish a new fuel monitoring observatory, starting with jet fuel stocks across the bloc. Officials are also studying greater flexibility around airport slot rules and the practice of "fuel tankering" — whereby airlines load more fuel than needed at cheaper airports to avoid buying it at costlier destinations. On the supply side, the Commission is examining whether to import American-grade Jet A fuel, a standard different from the Jet A-1 used across Europe. The switch faces significant technical hurdles: Jet A does not meet European cold-weather performance requirements, particularly relevant for long-haul flights, and a formal technical assessment is still underway. Longer term, Brussels is weighing mandatory minimum stockpile requirements that would oblige member states to maintain emergency reserves.
The pressure is being felt at the national level too. The Netherlands activated the first phase of its National Oil Crisis Plan this week, a contingency framework originally drawn up in 2023 during the energy disruptions triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Phase one requires government officials to intensify dialogue with fuel-intensive sectors such as transport and agriculture, and to step up monitoring of fuel inventories. While this initial phase carries no direct impact on citizens, later phases of the plan include striking measures such as car-free Sundays, a motorway speed limit of 80 km/h, and bans on diesel-powered home delivery services — echoes of the 1973 oil crisis.
The Dutch government also announced targeted relief measures to cushion the impact of rising pump prices, including higher tax-free travel allowances for employees, a road tax discount for small business vans, and the reopening of an emergency fund to help low-income households pay energy bills. Notably, the Netherlands is not cutting fuel excise duties — a step taken by Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden and Greece — with economists arguing such cuts disproportionately benefit higher-income households and carry steep fiscal costs.
The broader picture is stark. The International Energy Agency has described the conflict's effect on global oil markets as the greatest disruption in history, with no clear end in sight. Logistics giant DHL warned this week that while it has fuel secured through May and June, the outlook beyond that point remains highly uncertain. For the EU, the immediate challenge is balancing short-term crisis management with longer-term structural changes to reduce dependence on supply routes running through one of the world's most volatile regions.