Asia Grapples with Jet Fuel Shortages, Disrupting Air Travel

The scramble for jet fuel across Asia is the latest sign of how energy shortages are rippling through the global economy, disrupting air travel and highlighting the challenges policymakers face in securing sufficient supplies.

Airlines in countries ranging from New Zealand to the Philippines have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights in recent weeks as refiners struggle to keep up with resurgent post-pandemic demand for aviation fuel.

The shortages underscore how the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine is being felt far beyond Europe, as the conflict and resulting sanctions have tightened global energy markets.

{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}

In New Zealand, national carrier Air New Zealand has canceled about 1,100 flights through early May, while Singapore Airlines and its regional wing SilkAir have trimmed some services to Australia and Southeast Asia.

Carriers in the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia have also cut flights, and airports in Indonesia and Vietnam have experienced supply crunches.

{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}

The disruptions come as air travel in parts of Asia is rebounding strongly from COVID-19 lockdowns, putting further strain on fuel supplies.

Analysts say the situation highlights the vulnerability of aviation to energy shocks and the broader challenges facing policymakers as they grapple with a global energy crisis exacerbated by the Ukraine war.

{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}