Jet fuel supply constraints are expected to persist for months even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, according to IATA Director General Willie Walsh, highlighting a key difference between the current disruption and previous crises.
Speaking in Singapore, Walsh said the bottleneck is no longer crude availability alone but damage to refining capacity across the Middle East, a critical hub for global fuel production.
“If it were to reopen and remain open, I think it will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be,” he said.
Willie Walsh, IATA chief, has said replenishing jet fuel supplies could take months even if Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz owing to the disruptions to Middle East refining capacity. Read more: https://t.co/Gtf9A7Nwiu pic.twitter.com/ts087tduiW
— Reuters Business (@ReutersBiz) April 8, 2026
Fuel, which typically accounts for around 27 percent of airline operating costs, has become a growing pressure point as prices surge. Jet fuel has risen sharply during the conflict, with airlines already adjusting operations to manage tighter availability, including adding refuelling stops and carrying additional fuel.
The impact is uneven, with import-dependent markets in Asia among the most exposed. Countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar and Pakistan are facing increased strain as regional supply tightens, compounded by reduced exports from key producers including China and Thailand.
While crude oil prices have eased on expectations of a ceasefire and the reopening of Hormuz, Walsh cautioned that downstream fuel markets will take longer to stabilise due to structural constraints in refining.
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Author: Anastasiya Simsek
