Aviation fuel shortage in Italy: four northern airports impose fuel limits

Four major airports in northern Italy have introduced aircraft-fuel restrictions after fuel supplies were depleted sharply, prompting airlines to warn that escalating geopolitical tensions could lead to broader flight disruption across Europe.

Fuel restrictions imposed at key Italian hubs

According to Euronews, operating restrictions have been applied at four strategic Italian airports: Milan Linate, Bologna Guglielmo Marconi, Venice Marco Polo, and Treviso.

Air BP Italia, the aviation fuels unit of BP, said the restrictions will remain in place at least until April 9 to safeguard supply for essential services.

How the rules work

Official notices state that priority will be given to emergency flights, government flights, and flights with a flight time of more than three hours. For other short-haul services, fuel allotments are limited to 2,000 liters per aircraft, according to Corriere della Sera after reviewing NOTAMs sent to airport operators.

While 2,000 liters may appear substantial, technical calculations provided by pilots to Corriere della Sera indicate it would cover less than one hour of flight for common aircraft such as the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320. Without refueling beforehand at other airports, the rule would make certain direct domestic routes—such as the Veneto-Sicily corridor—unworkable.

Airport operators and airlines respond

Save Group, which operates Venice and Treviso airports, said it is working to reduce the impact and that the issue involves a single supplier. The company stated that other suppliers continue to serve most airlines at its airports and emphasized that there are no restrictions on intercontinental or Schengen flights, adding that operations remain guaranteed.

San Francesco d’Assisi Airport also issued a reassurance to ANSA, saying safe fuel reserves are currently adequate for another 3-4 weeks.

Timing around Easter and supply outlook

Corriere della Sera reported that Easter holiday flights and the days immediately after are still guaranteed. However, it said the last kerosene shipment from the Persian Gulf is expected to arrive in Europe on April 9, creating short-term supply risks.

Geopolitical drivers and market effects

Although not explicitly stated in the official notices, the bottleneck is attributed to geopolitical tensions, including a significant blockade at the Strait of Hormuz, a key crude-oil route for Europe.

Lufthansa told Die Welt that tensions have begun to spill over into Asian markets and warned that a prolonged blockade at the Hormuz Strait could increase risks to fuel-supply security. The instability has also pushed fuel prices higher, with increases exceeding 100% in some regions.

Ryanair monitoring; broader disruption risk

Corriere della Sera said Ryanair is closely monitoring developments. While supply is currently secured through the end of May, the airline said it does not rule out canceling summer flights if the Iran conflict continues.

Italy still has the capacity to self-supply for about seven months, but the fragility of Europe’s energy-supply chain is expected to remain a major risk in the near term.