en.Wedoany.com Reported - The European Commission has issued guidance stating that, to alleviate the tight supply of jet fuel in Europe, the EU will allow European airlines to use US-standard jet fuel. This move is a response following an alert from the International Energy Agency (IEA) regarding Europe's jet fuel reserves. The IEA stated on April 16 that Europe's jet fuel reserves "may only last about six weeks," and if the Middle East situation continues to disrupt oil supplies, many flights could be forced to cancel "soon."

In its guidance, the European Commission also emphasized that consumer rights protections will not be relaxed. Airlines are not permitted to retroactively impose fuel surcharges on passengers after ticket purchase, citing rising fuel prices. This means that if airlines face increased costs due to using US-standard fuel, they cannot pass these charges onto passengers who have already bought tickets.

Regarding compensation liability for flight cancellations, the European Commission has clarified the boundaries of exemption. Airlines can only be exempted from financial compensation obligations under "extraordinary circumstances," such as local fuel shortages, while a mere increase in fuel prices does not constitute grounds for exemption. This provision offers clear protection for passenger rights, preventing airlines from evading compensation liability by citing oil price hikes.

The tight supply of jet fuel in Europe is closely linked to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The risk of oil supply disruptions caused by military conflicts in the Middle East has put pressure on the global aviation industry's fuel supply chain. The EU's issuance of this guidance aims to ease supply bottlenecks by relaxing fuel standards, while maintaining the baseline of consumer rights protection during this special period.

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