European officials have warned that a large number of planned holidays could be at risk due to a shortage of aviation fuel.
The "Express" publication reported this.
According to the information, European Union Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen assessed the situation as a "very serious crisis". According to him, the fuel shortage could lead to widespread disruptions in air transport.
The war with Iran and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz are cited as the cause of the crisis. For this reason, oil exports from the Middle East have sharply decreased, and aviation fuel reserves in Europe have been severely depleted.
"It is very likely that many people's holidays will be disrupted either due to flight cancellations or excessive increases in ticket prices," Dan Jørgensen stated. He added that if fuel is physically unavailable, all efforts cannot fully solve such a problem.
Meanwhile, the head of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, Pierluigi Di Palma, recommended that tourists consider domestic holidays. According to him, the crisis could have serious consequences for passengers, and domestic tourism could be a safer alternative. He also advised those planning to travel to purchase special insurance for delays and cancellations.
The European Union has prepared a series of measures to mitigate the effects of the crisis. These include accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources and promoting technologies such as heat pumps and solar panels.
According to the information, Europe imports approximately 75 percent of the aviation fuel it uses from the Middle East. For this reason, disruptions in supply lead to particularly serious consequences. Lufthansa airline has already canceled approximately 20,000 short-haul flights until October.
The International Energy Agency, meanwhile, stated that fuel reserves in Europe could last only six weeks. The agency's executive director, Fatih Birol, called this situation "the biggest energy crisis we have ever faced."(qaynarinfo)