IATA has issued guidance confirming that potential jet fuel shortages from Middle East disruptions qualify for Justified Non-Utilization of Slots (JNUS), protecting airlines from slot penalties amid supply constraints.
This applies where fuel supply disruptions, rationing, or airport fueling restrictions prevent flight operations, treating them as unforeseeable events outside airline control.
The statement addresses vulnerabilities exposed by the West Asia conflict, including strikes on energy infrastructure, refinery disruptions, and logistics blockages that hinder jet fuel availability.
Airlines face airspace closures, forced reroutings, reduced alternates, and widespread schedule disruptions as direct consequences, with network-wide impacts eligible for JNUS relief.
Supporting documentation includes NOTAMs, regulator instructions, fuel allocation refusals, and proof of operational effects; coordinators must grant approvals on a rolling six-week basis or escalate to coordination committees.
While IATA views the oil price shock as non-existential, elevated jet fuel costs persist due to damaged refining capacity, even if key routes like the Strait of Hormuz reopen.
Europe’s growing import reliance and refinery closures further weaken regional supply resilience, amplifying global operational risks for carriers.