Brindisi Airport Resumes Normal Operations Following Severe Jet Fuel Shortage in Italy

Brindisi airport returned to normal operations on the morning of April 7, 2026, after a fuel shortage that had forced airlines to board kerosene at departure airports before flying to the Apulian hub. The NOTAM reporting limited fuel availability at Brindisi was canceled at 8:00 AM, and Antonio Maria Vasile, president of Aeroporti di Puglia, confirmed that seven tanker trucks were scheduled to arrive throughout the day to guarantee regular operations. The shortage had been caused not by a direct supply failure but by an overflow of demand: aircraft from Milan, Bologna, and Venice had diverted to Brindisi to refuel, drawing down local stocks. No flights were canceled as a result of the disruption, the company said.

„These are indirect effects connected to the problems recorded by other airports. In practice, aircraft coming from Milan, Bologna, and Venice refueled in Brindisi, significantly reducing the stock, which will in any case be replenished tomorrow morning.” — Antonio Maria Vasile via Adnkronos

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the US-Israel conflict with Iran that began on February 28, 2026, has disrupted global energy supply chains. According to Il Messaggero, 43 percent of global jet fuel — kerosene — moves through the Strait of Hormuz. Europe imports approximately 30 percent of its jet fuel, according to ANSA, making the continent particularly exposed to supply disruptions originating in the Persian Gulf. The crisis has caused jet fuel prices to double since the start of the conflict, according to Il Messaggero.

Six other Italian airports still rationing fuel as crisis widens While Brindisi has been stabilized, fuel rationing or limitations remain in place at six other Italian airports: Milan Linate, Venice, Treviso, Bologna, Reggio Calabria, and Pescara. The operator Air BP Italia had previously announced rationed distribution at Milan Linate, Venice, Treviso, and Bologna after delays in a jet fuel shipment originating from the Persian Gulf. At Reggio Calabria, a maximum refueling quota per aircraft has been introduced, while Pescara was operating with a single 20,000-liter tanker truck. According to Il Messaggero, a ship carrying jet fuel was expected to arrive in Venice on April 7, with a larger vessel due at the port of Rotterdam on Thursday. Pierluigi Di Palma, president of ENAC, sought to temper alarm, stating that there was currently no general emergency regarding fuel supplies at Italian airports and attributing part of the problem to longstanding infrastructure deficiencies at smaller airports rather than solely to the war.

„There is currently no alarm regarding fuel supplies at airports. If anything, but this was happening even before the war, there is a problem with storage infrastructure, especially at small Italian airports, which we are discussing with the main companies.” — Pierluigi Di Palma via Il Messaggero

Milan Linate: rationed, Venice: rationed, Treviso: rationed, Bologna: rationed, Reggio Calabria: quota limit, Pescara: single tanker only

Oil above $111 as airlines warn of summer cancellations The broader energy market context underlines the severity of the disruption. 111 (USD per barrel) — Texas WTI crude oil price, above threshold Texas WTI crude oil has risen above 111 dollars per barrel, while Brent crude is trading near 110 dollars, according to La Stampa. Jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the conflict with Iran, according to Il Messaggero, placing severe pressure on airline operating costs. Ryanair and Lufthansa have both warned of potential flight cancellations if the conflict and the Hormuz blockade extend into May or June, according to ANSA and Rai News. According to web search results, Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary indicated that if there were a risk to 10 or 20 percent of the fuel supply this summer, airlines would have to consider canceling some flights — a figure that contrasts with ANSA's reporting that Europe imports around 30 percent of its jet fuel through affected routes. Problems have already been recorded at airports in Asia, the primary destination for crude oil transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to Rai News. Consumer association Codacons estimated that travel insurance against flight cancellation risk can cost up to 8 percent of the total vacation cost, according to ANSA, though such policies carry deductibles, exclusions, and maximum payout limits.

Salvini calls for return to Russian energy as political tensions rise The fuel crisis has reignited political debate in Italy over energy sourcing. Matteo Salvini, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, proposed returning to imports of Russian crude oil and gas as a means of addressing the supply crunch, calling on the European Union to "take note of the situation," according to La Stampa. The Lega party, which Salvini leads, called for urgent interventions to support families and businesses and urged the EU to reconsider oil and gas supplies from Russia. Federpetroli president Michele Marsiglia echoed the position, arguing that a return to Russian imports would allow Italy and Europe to resolve a large part of their energy problems and reduce the burden on household bills. La Stampa reported that European stock exchanges have lost significant value since the start of the Middle East conflict, though a precise figure was not confirmed in the available sources. On fuel prices at the pump, La Stampa reported that self-service gasoline reached 1.781 euros per liter on the road network, while diesel rose to 2.140 euros per liter, with higher values on motorway networks. Codacons estimated that the total additional cost for Italian holiday travel amounts to 1.3 billion euros more than in the previous year, with the diesel price increase compared to 2025 exceeding 30 percent, according to La Stampa. The Italian government extended an excise duty cut on fuel until May 1, with the approximately 500 million euro cost covered through emissions trading revenues and VAT extra-income, according to La Stampa.