UK Refineries Boost Jet Fuel Supply as Airline Flights Canceled Fuel Fears Grow
British refineries have been asked to maximise output as airline flights canceled fuel fears build around possible supply shocks from the Iran war. Michael Shanks said the government is closely monitoring UK jet fuel stocks and working with airlines, airports, fuel suppliers and other governments to keep aircraft moving.
Michael Shanks on UK jet fuel stocks
"UK airlines typically buy fuel months in advance, and aviation fuel suppliers hold bunkered stocks. The UK imports jet fuel supplies from a range of countries not reliant on the strait, including the United States," Shanks said in a ministerial statement. He also said: "Airlines UK have stated that ‘UK airlines continue to operate normally and are not experiencing issues with jet fuel supply.’ The government continues to work with partners to monitor and mitigate potential disruptions".
Four remaining refineries are now carrying more weight in the domestic system after the Grangemouth and Lindsey refineries closed in 2025. Fawley, Humber, Pembroke and Stanlow still produce petrol, diesel, jet fuel and fuel oil, while the UK had 18 refineries in the 1970s. That smaller base leaves less room for error if imports tighten further.
Hormuz shipments and four-week planning
2.3m tonnes of jet fuel and kerosene were transported on ships in the seven days to 26 April, the lowest recorded weekly shipment figure tracked since Kpler began in 2017. That volume was less than half the average weekly level shipped before the war, while normal flows of fossil fuels from the Gulf have effectively been at a standstill since the conflict broke out. The strait of Hormuz carries a fifth of the world's oil and gas.
Four-to-six-week planning is where airlines say they still see no supply problems, and that leaves room for the system to absorb short-term shocks for now. Airlines UK said carriers continue to operate normally, but some airlines have already announced flight cancellations.
Jet2 locks in 87%
87% of Jet2's fuel requirement for the peak summer season has been hedged at an average price of $707 a metric tonne, a move that limits exposure if jet fuel costs jump again. Jet2 also said on Wednesday that it remained in contact with its fuel suppliers and airports and that current geopolitical uncertainty was already pushing holidaymakers to book closer to departure.
Friday's exemption from the use-it-or-lose-it rule gives airlines some protection if they cancel flights because of fuel shortages at busy airports, since they will not lose valuable takeoff and landing slots. That keeps the focus on supply rather than airport access if the disruption deepens.
