Jet Fuel Crisis Triggers Rationing at Four Northern Italian Airports

A sudden crunch in aviation fuel supplies has forced Milan Linate, Bologna, Venice Marco-Polo and Treviso airports to cap uplifts to a maximum of 2,000 litres per aircraft until at least 9 April. The NOTAMs, confirmed by fuel supplier Air BP and first reported by Corriere della Sera, prioritise long-haul, state and air-ambulance flights while short-haul carriers are being told to tanker additional fuel from previous legs. Although airport operator SAVE insists that only one fuel vendor is affected, airline operations teams say the restriction equates to less than one hour of autonomy for work-horse narrow-body jets such as the A320 or B737. Domestic rotations between northern and southern Italy and intra-EU business-shuttle routes are therefore most exposed; several charter brokers told Euronews they are examining contingency refuelling stops in Zurich and Ljubljana. The immediate cause is the partial blockade of oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted deliveries scheduled for the Easter peak. Analysts warn that if Gulf tensions continue, Europe’s downstream logistics could face cascading shortages by early summer—exactly when corporate travel and MICE events ramp up. For mobility managers the implications are twofold. First, expect last-minute schedule changes and potential fuel surcharges on high-frequency corporate shuttles. Second, review contingency routings for critical staff: wide-body services and medical evacuation flights will continue unimpeded, but point-to-point short-haul options may shrink.



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Companies with time-sensitive cargo should also monitor belly-hold capacity, which could tighten if passenger aircraft are re-deployed. The crisis is a reminder that global mobility planning must now factor in geopolitical supply-chain shocks as keenly as labour strikes or weather events. Organisations with Italy-centric travel programmes are advised to build additional buffers into April and May itineraries and keep travellers informed about possible technical stops for refuelling.