Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

EASA is preparing guidance on how jet-A and jet-A1can be combined as European aircraft operators come to terms with fuel supply shortages caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Europe’s aviation safety regulator confirmed today that it is consulting with member states on the contents of a safety information bulletin.
According to industry sources, Eurocontrol has also prepared a set of contingency measures intended to save scarce fuel. These could include reducing aircraft speeds, endorsing single-engine taxiing at airports, and continuous descent flight paths. At press time, the air traffic control agency had not responded to AIN’s request to confirm the plans.
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and other air transport groups have been urging the European Commission to suspend aspects of its ReFuelEU decarbonization policy, such as requirements for operators to source most of their fuel at European Union airports when flying within and out of the continent.
The EC has so far ignored calls to relax the anti-tankering rules and has sought to play down concerns about fuel shortages by arguing that its mandates for 90-day reserves will prove sufficient. However, according to an EBAA spokesman, the safety-based guidance from EASA and Eurocontrol could “open a door” to some concessions by giving officials a way to avoid abandoning the policy on principle.
Meanwhile, European governments are scrambling to arrange alternative sources of jet fuel as supplies from the Middle East run short. These efforts include turning to other suppliers in locations such as the U.S. and Africa, while home-based refineries are being urged to prioritize production of jet fuel.
The European Commission requires member states to maintain a 90-day reserve oil supply. However, the rules do not specify how much of this reserve should consist of specific fuel types, so there could be significant variations in the jet-A stocks around the continent. Last month, the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2026-04-30/fuel-crisis-could-be-tough-test-business-aviation">International Energy Agency warned</a> that Europe could face chronic jet fuel shortages by the end of May, and the International Air Transport Association has made the same forecast.
Despite indications from the U.S. on Wednesday that its standoff with Iran over access to the Strait of Hormuz could soon be resolved—albeit almost a month since a ceasefire was agreed—aircraft fuel prices remain very high. This has exposed airlines and other operators to extreme cost pressure, with scheduled operators this week confirming the cancellations of thousands more flights on the grounds that they are not commercially viable.
In late April, the European Commission issued its Accelerate EU policy, which established a “fuel observatory” to track jet fuel stocks across member states. It also said that it would issue guidance on flexibility over airport slot rules to help airlines forced to suspend services. On May 3, the UK government announced its own plan to avoid penalizing carriers who have to relinquish slots.
While Europe’s aviation sector appears to be the most exposed to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, aircraft operators in the Asia-Pacific region are also struggling with greatly inflated fuel prices. Government-imposed fuel rationing has begun in countries such as Vietnam.
Risk management group Dyami Security Intelligence has warned that the situation could become more acute as “three demand peaks are now converging.” These are the peak European travel season, the Hajj airlift of more than 3 million pilgrims to Muslim religious sites in Saudi Arabia, and the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. In a bulletin issued on Monday, Dyami pointed out that neither FIFA nor the World Cup host governments have issued a public jet fuel security plan for the event.&nbsp;

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

Safety Guidance Could Prompt Shift in European Jet Fuel Tankering Rules

EASA and Eurocontrol are considering measures to save aircraft fuel 

Safety guidance anticipated from EASA and Eurocontrol could provide a face-saving way for the European Commission to compromise on anti-tankering rules.

Safety Guidance May Prompt Shift in Fuel Tankering Rules

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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