Travel panic in EU country loved by Brits as four airports given fuel warning | World | News
Four major airports in Italy are facing “limited” fuel supplies as concerns grow that the Iran war could cause chaos in commercial aviation. Jet fuel restrictions have been introduced at Bologna, Treviso and Venice airports, while Milan Linate, one of three airports serving Italy’s financial capital, may also face measures.
Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) advisories issued to airlines on Saturday by supplier Air BP Italia, a subsidiary of British oil giant BP, warned that jet fuel availability would be reduced at airports by Thursday. Announcements in Treviso, Bologna and Venice stated that priority would be given to medical, government and flights longer than three hours. It was stated that a maximum fuel allocation of 2,000 liters per aircraft will be applied for non-priority flights.
For commercial airlines, this amount alone does not cover one hour of a scheduled flight, according to local reports.
The announcement for Venice added: “Pilots are asked to calculate sufficient fuel from the previous airport for their next flight leg.”
Milan Linate’s advice stayed out of this and warned of possible restrictions.
The statement said: “Due to Air BP Italia’s limited fuel availability, refueling services for operators contractually bound to Air BP Italia may be subject to restrictions.”
This comes just days after Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary warned jet fuel supplies could be disrupted in May and June if the Iran war continues.
However, Pierluigi Di Palma, head of Italy’s civil aviation authority ENAC, told the Italian news agency: ANSA Limited fuel supplies at four airports are “linked not to the Hormuz blockade but to the busy Easter period”.
Pierluigi Di Palma added: “If the conflict continues there will be consequences. But for now I see diplomacy at work.”
Italian airport operator Save SpA, which manages airports including Venice and Treviso, told local media the fuel restrictions were “not significant”, adding that it was “related to only one supplier and there are others at the group’s airports that supply fuel to most of the airlines”.
Danilo Recine, vice president of Italian pilots’ union ANPAC, said he did not believe there would be cancellations at Bologna, Treviso, Venice and Milan Linate over the Easter weekend.
But speaking to Sky TG24, Trump said that if Iran did not end its de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, “the problem will become real”.
