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Italy Airport Jet Fuel Rationing: What It Means for Your Flights

Last updated: Apr 14, 2026

Seven Italian airports are rationing jet fuel right now.

Air BP Italia, the aviation fuel supplier, issued emergency NOTAMs (Notices to Air Missions) imposing strict fuel limits initially at Milan Linate, Bologna, Venice Marco Polo, and Treviso.

By 6 April, three more airports were added: Brindisi, Pescara, and Reggio Calabria.

The restrictions were triggered by a sharp drop in kerosene deliveries from the Persian Gulf after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed on 28 February 2026. As of 14 April 2026, the underlying supply disruption continues — a brief US-Iran ceasefire on 8 April failed to reopen the Strait, and the situation has since worsened.

Here’s what travellers flying to or through Italy need to know.

Table of Contents

Which Airports Are Affected?

Seven airports across Italy have fuel rationing restrictions. All are supplied by Air BP Italia, which issued the emergency NOTAMs.

The original four airports, restricted since early April:

Milan Linate (LIN) — fuel cap of 2,000 litres per aircraft for short-haul flights
Bologna (BLQ) — fuel cap of 2,000 litres per aircraft for short-haul flights
Venice Marco Polo (VCE) — fuel cap of 2,000 litres per aircraft for short-haul flights
Treviso (TSF) — fuel cap of 2,500 litres per aircraft for short-haul flights

Three additional airports added from 6 April:

Brindisi (BDS) — complete fuel depletion; no jet fuel available on-site. Aircraft must arrive with pre-positioned reserves
Pescara (PSR) — limited to a single 20,000-litre tanker for the rationing period
Reggio Calabria (REG) — fuel cap of 3,000 litres per aircraft

These caps are far below normal operating levels.

A Boeing 737-800 burns roughly 3,000 litres per flight hour, so the 2,000-litre ceiling leaves roughly 40 minutes of flying time once taxi and reserves are factored in.

Airports NOT affected by the rationing include:

If you’re flying to Milan, note that Malpensa is unaffected while Linate is rationed, check which airport your flight uses.

Which Flights Get Priority?

The NOTAMs spell out a clear priority order for fuel allocation at the affected airports.

First priority: ambulance and medical evacuation flights
Second priority: state and government flights
Third priority: long-haul flights with a duration of more than 3 hours
Everyone else: short-haul flights — capped at 2,000–2,500 litres per aircraft (varies by airport)

This means short-haul routes are hit hardest. Domestic Italian flights and short European hops from these airports face the tightest restrictions, as reported by Euronews.

How This Could Affect Your Trip

If you’re booked on a flight to, from, or through one of the affected airports, here’s what could happen:

Technical stops added: airlines may route your flight through fuel-rich hubs like Rome Fiumicino or Zurich to refuel, making your journey longer
Schedule changes: Ryanair, Lufthansa, and British Airways have all warned passengers of possible disruptions
Flight cancellations: even at non-rationed hubs like Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa, 271 flights were delayed and 15 cancelled on 6 April due to cascading disruption from the fuel crisis, Easter peak demand, and European ATC congestion — affecting ITA Airways, Ryanair, easyJet, and others
Higher fares ahead: jet fuel hit $209 a barrel as of the week ending 3 April 2026 according to IATA, more than double IATA’s 2026 baseline forecast of $88 per barrel. Airlines will pass some of that cost on

Long-haul flights (over 3 hours) are less affected since they receive priority fuelling at the rationed airports.

If you have upcoming flights to Venice, Milan, or Bologna, take these steps:

Check your airport terminal. If your flight uses Milan Linate, see if you can switch to Milan Malpensa, which is not rationed
Monitor your airline’s alerts. Sign up for flight notifications via your airline’s app or the Wego flight tracker
Build in buffer time. Technical fuel stops could add 1–2 hours to your journey — don’t book tight connections through affected airports
Arrive early. Disruptions are rippling across Italian airports, not just those under rationing
Keep booking confirmations handy. You’ll need them if you need to claim your rights under EU Regulation 261/2004

Your Passenger Rights If Flights Are Disrupted

If your flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, you have rights under EU Regulation 261/2004.

Your airline must offer you the following, no matter what:

Re-routing on the next available flight to your destination, or a full refund if you choose not to travel
Right to care: meals, drinks, and hotel accommodation if you’re stuck overnight
Communication: two free phone calls, emails, or faxes

Cash compensation (€250–€600 depending on distance) is a separate matter. Airlines may argue that fuel shortages caused by the Strait of Hormuz crisis qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” under EC 261, which would exempt them from paying compensation.

That said, your right to re-routing, refunds, and care is not affected by extraordinary circumstances — airlines must provide these regardless. If your airline doesn’t offer assistance, file a complaint through the EU’s passenger rights portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rome Fiumicino affected by fuel rationing?

No. Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, and Naples are not under fuel rationing as of 14 April 2026. The seven airports currently affected are Milan Linate, Bologna, Venice Marco Polo, Treviso, Brindisi, Pescara, and Reggio Calabria.

Will my long-haul flight to Italy be affected?

Long-haul flights over 3 hours get priority fuelling at the rationed airports, so they’re less likely to be disrupted. Short-haul European and domestic flights face the strictest caps.

Can I get compensation if my flight is cancelled due to fuel rationing?

Cash compensation is uncertain — airlines may claim extraordinary circumstances. But your right to re-routing or a full refund, plus meals and accommodation while you wait, applies regardless.

How long will the fuel rationing last?

Air BP Italia’s original NOTAMs ran through 9 April 2026. As of 14 April, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed — a brief US-Iran ceasefire on 8 April collapsed by 12 April — and ACI Europe has warned that up to 100 EU airports could face fuel constraints within weeks. Check with your airline for the latest status.

How many airports in Italy are affected?

As of 14 April 2026, seven airports are under fuel rationing: Milan Linate, Bologna, Venice Marco Polo, and Treviso (since early April), plus Brindisi, Pescara, and Reggio Calabria (added from 6 April). Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, and Naples are not rationed.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.