The low-cost airline Wizz Air faced problems due to the shortage of kerosene (fuel derived from petroleum) in Italy, but remains optimistic about the coming weeks, said this Friday, the 17th, the company’s executive president (CEO), József Váradi.
“There were problems due to a lack of fuel at three Italian airports: Venice, Brindisi and Catania. Everything was resolved within the space of a day and, in some cases, a few hours, without having to cancel flights”, explained József Váradi to the Italian economic daily Il Sole 24 Ore.
“In no other European country, to date, has there been a fuel shortage,” he added.
Several Italian airports had warned airlines in early April that they would run out of fuel for a few hours, asking them to arrive with enough fuel for return flights.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a consequence of the war in the Middle East, raises the risk of a kerosene shortage over Europe, as the time for the big summer sailings approaches.
Although Europe normally imports half of its kerosene from Gulf countries, opinions differ regarding the risks of canceling flights scheduled between the beginning of May and the beginning of June if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.
“We observe each other to understand how serious the situation can be. Kerosene was supplied adequately throughout Europe, with a small setback in Italy. But even this Italian setback was not that serious, because it lasted a short time and was overcome”, highlighted the president of Wizz Air.
“For now, the situation in Europe is not that alarming. There are more serious problems in Asia than in Europe”, continued József Váradi, adding that once the crisis is overcome, it will not be too harmful.
In the event of a problem at an airport, the company plans, firstly, to resort to “’tankering’”, that is, to overload the fuel supply as soon as the plane departs to ensure that the journey can continue, before eventually reducing the supply at that airport, explained József Váradi.
The group increased capacity in Europe this year, particularly in Italy, after reducing capacity in the Middle East in 2025, before the war.
“Demand is hesitant” in Europe for the next few weeks, “people are waiting to find out what will happen. Regarding the high summer season, on the other hand, we are ahead” of last year, said József Váradi.
On Thursday, International Energy Agency (IEA) director Fatih Birol said Europe has “perhaps six more weeks of jet fuel”, warning of possible flight cancellations soon if oil supplies remain blocked.
Several airlines are adjusting operations in the face of rising fuel prices, such as KLM which, next month, will operate 80 fewer flights to and from Amsterdam’s Schipol airport.
The Lufthansa group also announced the closure of the regional subsidiary CityLine due to the increase in kerosene costs and additional charges resulting from labor conflicts, removing the 27 Lufthansa CityLine planes from operation to reduce the losses of this loss-making airline.
