BERLIN, Germany / MENA Newswire / – The German Airports Association on May 9 warned of jet fuel shortages and rising kerosene prices that are increasing the risk of flight cancellations and higher fares during the 2026 summer travel season, with smaller airports and marginal leisure routes likely to be hit first. Airports said the combination threatens regional connectivity and could disrupt tourism and business travel as airlines prioritize the most profitable routes.
Ralph Beisel, chief executive of the German Airports Association, also known as the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Verkehrsflughäfen (ADV), said airlines were already scrutinizing capacity in response to the cost shock and uncertainty over deliveries. He said airports were particularly concerned about additional cuts by low-cost carriers and services to destinations with limited tourism appeal, where yields are thinner and aircraft can be redeployed quickly. Beisel said airports depend on stable schedules for staffing, security planning and ground handling contracts.
Beisel said the best-case scenario for 2026 would be flat passenger volumes after several years of recovery. In a worst-case scenario, he said operating capacity at some airports could fall by about 10%, a reduction that could affect as many as 20 million passengers across Germany’s network. He added that some destinations could lose air links altogether, while others could see fewer frequencies and higher ticket prices as carriers concentrate capacity at larger hubs and on high-demand leisure corridors.
Fuel market stress has been linked to disruptions in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, which has pushed up the cost of aviation kerosene and tightened availability. Aviation data provider Cirium has reported that carriers removed about 13,000 flights from global May schedules, cutting roughly two million seats, as airlines trimmed or consolidated services and shifted aircraft to conserve fuel.
German authorities have said they are monitoring supplies closely. Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said in April that jet fuel availability was not in immediate danger as refineries adapted to stronger demand, but she confirmed the government had stepped up vigilance. Germany’s aviation industry has described the problem as mainly a price shock, noting fuel costs have more than doubled since the start of the Middle East conflict.
International agencies and EU institutions have also moved to frame the risks and consumer implications. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said in an April 16 interview in Paris that Europe had “maybe six weeks or so” of jet fuel left if oil flows remain blocked by the Iran war, warning that flight cancellations could follow if inventories draw down further. The European Commission said on May 8 that high fuel prices should not be treated as an “extraordinary circumstance” for passenger compensation rules, although it noted airlines can be exempt in cases such as a proven local fuel shortage. The German Airports Association warns of jet fuel shortages that could turn a price shock into a wider scheduling problem if supply bottlenecks persist.
European regulators are preparing contingency measures as operators seek alternative sourcing. On May 8, the European Commission said there were no regulatory barriers to using Jet A fuel imported from markets such as the United States, provided the change is managed and communicated across the supply chain. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said Jet A has a higher maximum freezing point than Europe’s standard Jet A-1 and requires updated procedures and fuel handling controls.
Major airline groups have begun quantifying the financial impact. Lufthansa said on May 6 it expected a 1.7 billion euro increase in jet fuel costs this year and that it would rely on hedging, higher fares, network adjustments and cost cuts to protect its profit outlook; Chief Financial Officer Till Streichert said fuel supplies at the group’s hubs were expected to be secure through June, while the company prepared refuelling stopovers on some long-haul services if constraints worsen.
International Airlines Group, owner of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, warned on May 8 that 2026 profit, cash flow and capacity would be lower than previously guided, and projected a jet fuel bill of about 9 billion euros, about 2 billion euros higher than in 2025. The German Airports Association warns of jet fuel shortages that could further strain regional connectivity unless supply conditions stabilise and airlines can restore predictable schedules.