---
title: "Jet Fuel Shortage Deepens Pressure On Global Airlines"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286088823.md"
description: "Jet fuel shortages and rising oil prices are putting significant pressure on global airlines, particularly affecting Heathrow Airport, where passenger numbers fell 5% in April. The Middle East conflict has led to a 50% drop in traffic to that region, although transfer traffic to Asia and Oceania increased by 10%. The jet fuel crisis is reportedly worse than during Covid, with supplies at record lows. Spirit Airlines has collapsed due to these pressures, while UK transport officials are attempting to alleviate the situation. Despite challenges, demand for travel remains strong."
datetime: "2026-05-12T11:22:20.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286088823.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286088823.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286088823.md)
---

# Jet Fuel Shortage Deepens Pressure On Global Airlines

_ViaCity AM,_

-   Heathrow’s April passenger numbers fell 5% to 6.7 million, with Middle East traffic down 50%.
-   Transfer traffic rose 10% as travellers rerouted through Heathrow to Asia and Oceania.
-   Airlines are facing mounting pressure from jet fuel shortages and higher oil prices.

**Fewer passengers were heading to Heathrow Airport in April as the war in theMiddle East keeps travellers grounded.**

Passenger numbers at Europe’s biggest airport fell by five per cent in April to 6.7m with the blame being attributed to the “ongoing impact of the Middle East conflict”.

**For those heading to that particular region, Heathrow saw a whopping 50 per cent drop in volumes.**

Still, in the year-to-date (Jan–Apr) traffic maintained modest growth at 1.2 per cent.

Transfer demand grew ten per cent in April, as travellers rerouted through Heathrow to reach Asia and Oceania, helping offset losses indirect Middle Eastern travel.

Travel to Asia remained a major growth driver, with a 5.6 per cent increase in April and a 10.6 per cent increase year-to-date.

_**“We know passengers want certainty when planning their hard-earned summer holidays, so we are supporting Government and airlines as they work through their plans to get passengers on their journeys,”**_ Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow’stop boss, said.

## **Jet fuel crisis ‘worse’ than Covid**

Growing anxieties around the jet fuel shortage caused by the Iran war have rocked the travel industry.

Tony Fernandes, chief executive of Air Asia, said last week: _**“I thought I’d seen it all with Covid\[…\] but having seen jet fuel go up almost three times — this is much worse.”**_

It comes after supplies for jet fuel have tumbled to their lowest level since records began, as the warblocks crucial shipping lanes for fuel.

Spirit Airlines – a US-based low-cost airline – last week collapsed under mounting pressure caused by surging oil prices. The firm had failed to secure a $500m lifeline from the Trump administration, leaving it to go out of business and cancel all flights.

**Researchers at Allianz Trade warned the UK is among themost “structurally exposed” to jet fuel shortages.**

Meanwhile, transport secretary Heidi Alexander has loosened “use it or lose it” rules in a bid to soften the pressures facing airlines.

Woldbye said: _**“While we have seen some short-term disruption linked to the Middle East conflict, demand for travel remains strong with current fuel supplies stable.”**_

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