Ryanair warns jet fuel rationing could halt summer flights

Ryanair warns jet fuel rationing could halt summer flights

Four airports in northern Italy — Milan Linate, Bologna, Venice and Treviso — have begun rationing aviation fuel. The immediate cause is shrinking kerosene reserves, worsened by the Hormuz blockade, forcing priority for long-haul and medical flights. Announced by Air BP Italia, British Petroleum's aviation division, the measure will last until at least April 9. Short-haul flights face a 2,000-liter cap per aircraft, a figure pilots say doesn't even cover an hour of autonomy for a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320.

What the 2,000-liter limit means

This isn't just airport trivia. With that load, short- and medium-haul planes can't fly direct domestic routes like Veneto to Sicily without refueling elsewhere. Save Group, managing Venice and Treviso, downplayed alarms, stating the issue affects one single supplier while others serve most airlines. They confirm no limits on intercontinental flights.

Official explanations clash with reality. Ryanair warned supplies might stop in May if the Iran conflict persists, and Volotea has already canceled flights. In short: it’s not one airport or airline, but a supply chain hit by a blocked maritime route.

The tourism Spain takes for granted

The economic impact matters here. If kerosene is scarce or expensive, fewer people fly. Less flying undermines Spain’s tourism model, which sells sun and food as exclusive assets. Some argue Spain benefits as tourists shift from distant destinations to the peninsula. Optimists see redistribution across the Mediterranean; pessimists note energy crises reduce travelers rather than redistribute them.

Real estate is reacting. Rumors suggest holiday rentals and coastal second homes may adjust if mass tourism cools, though no timeline exists. Veterans recall housing always falls last.

Why rationing hits Italy, not Spain?

Supply trinc operational priorities, not borders. NOTAMs prioritize long-haul and medical flights, leaving little for short-haul. Italy is the first European country where operators formally acknowledged restrictions. Others may trinc.

The core debate: fewer tourists, better or worse?

Two opposing views collide. One side sees low-cost tourism decline as a chance to ease housing pressure and overcrowding. The other notes the sector supports massive employment, warning abrupt halts hurt wages. Meanwhile, families separated by distance who can’t afford trains suffer.

The alarming fact: the 2,000-liter cap applies to planes needing far more for standard routes. Full calculations show terrifyingly thin margins. How long until Europe copies Italy’s NOTAM?