Italy Jet Fuel Rationing: Air BP Italia Restricts Supply at Four Major Airports

Air BP Italia, the Italian subsidiary of British energy giant BP, has introduced temporary jet fuel rationing at four airports in northern Italy. The restrictions, communicated through official Notices to Air Missions (NOTAM), took effect on April 2, 2026 at 15:00 local time and are set to remain in place until at least April 9.

The airports affected are Bologna (BLQ), Milan Linate (LIN), Venice Marco Polo (VCE), and Treviso (TSF). All four serve as key gateways for domestic and European short-haul traffic in northern and northeastern Italy.

Under the rationing protocol, refueling priority is granted to three categories of flights: air ambulance operations, government and state flights, and long-haul routes with a duration exceeding three hours. All other commercial operators face strict quantity caps. At Bologna and Venice, the maximum fuel uplift is limited to 2,000 liters per aircraft, while Treviso allows up to 2,500 liters. For context, a standard narrow-body aircraft such as an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 burns between 2,000 and 3,000 liters of Jet A1 fuel per hour on average.

At Venice Marco Polo, the situation is considered the most critical. The NOTAM includes a specific recommendation urging pilots to calculate sufficient fuel from their previous airport to cover subsequent flight segments, effectively asking crews to arrive with extra reserves onboard.

The rationing comes during the Easter holiday period, one of the busiest travel windows for Italian aviation. Airport operator Save SpA, which manages Venice, Treviso, and Verona airports, stated that the restrictions apply only to one supplier and that other fuel companies continue to operate normally. The operator also noted that intercontinental flights and Schengen-area services are not subject to restrictions.

Pierluigi Di Palma, president of Italian civil aviation regulator ENAC, told Italian news agency ANSA that the fuel limitations are linked to the pre-holiday traffic surge rather than the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. However, he acknowledged that a prolonged disruption of tanker routes through the Gulf could produce knock-on effects later in the spring. He also stated that the situation is currently under control and poses no immediate threat to passengers, while cautioning that risks could increase after April if supply problems persist.

Danilo Recine, vice president of Italian pilot union ANPAC, said the measures should not lead to flight cancellations over the Easter weekend but warned that the problem would become serious if no solution is found to the Strait of Hormuz blockade.

The underlying supply pressure is tied to the broader energy crisis triggered by the military escalation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran that began on February 28, 2026. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severely reduced the flow of crude oil and refined petroleum products from the Gulf region to global markets. Europe imports roughly one-third of its jet fuel needs, with a significant share normally sourced from Gulf refineries. The rerouting of tankers around the Cape of Good Hope has added weeks to delivery times, depleting inventories at Mediterranean refineries that supply northern Italian airports.

Airlines operating at the affected airports have begun deploying contingency measures. Several carriers are practicing fuel tankering, loading extra fuel at unaffected airports on inbound flights to reduce their uplift requirements in northern Italy. While this helps maintain schedules, it adds aircraft weight, reduces fuel efficiency, and increases operating costs. Other airlines are considering consolidating lightly booked services, adjusting aircraft assignments, and capping passenger loads to stay within weight limits.

Major European carriers have responded to the situation. Ryanair, which operates extensive bases at Bologna and Venice, has warned that a prolonged disruption of Middle East supplies could trigger broader schedule reductions across its European network in May and June. Lufthansa Group has drafted contingency plans that include the possibility of temporarily parking aircraft if fuel prices continue to rise. British Airways parent company IAG has cautioned that a drawn-out crisis could affect network resilience beyond fuel prices alone.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni traveled to Gulf states on April 4 and 5 to secure continued access to energy supplies, signaling that fuel security has become a top-level diplomatic priority for Italy.

While the restrictions are currently concentrated at four airports and limited to one fuel supplier, aviation analysts warn that the underlying jet fuel shortage is continental in scope. The crisis exposes how quickly localized supply constraints can ripple through interconnected European aviation hubs and disrupt operations during peak demand periods.