No Kerosene Supply Problems At Budapest's Main Airport

Although flight cancellations are already looming at the international level due to the European kerosene shortage, fuel supplies at Ferenc Liszt International Airport are currently stable. According the airport’s management company Budapest Airport, traffic is running smoothly for now. However, aviation experts warn that there is a real possibility of flight cancellations across the continent, the Hungarian news site 24.hu reported.

Based on recent warnings from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), Europe has enough jet fuel left for roughly six weeks. As a result, flight cancellations could begin by the end of May. However, Budapest Airport reported that there are no supply issues at the Hungarian capital’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport. Partners have not reported any disruptions, and there are currently no flight cancellations attributable to fuel shortages.

Hungary’s kerosene supply relies largely on imports. The fuel comes from foreign refineries, primarily in Europe and the Mediterranean. The airport’s daily kerosene consumption ranges between 1,200 and 2,000 tons depending on traffic, a figure that is steadily rising as the summer peak season approaches. At current traffic levels, the tanks at Ferenc Liszt International Airport can store enough fuel for 4–5 days, but the possibility of expanding capacity is already being explored. Security of supply is significantly enhanced by the fact that procurement comes from multiple sources. Furthermore, no official alert regarding the situation has been received from the European Union to date.

Budapest Airport emphasized that it has successfully managed similar supply chain challenges in the past. If necessary, the so-called tankering procedure can also be used. In this process, airlines refuel with extra fuel at the departure airport, thereby preventing potential restrictions at the destination.

Although the airport is doing everything possible in cooperation with the airlines to maintain smooth operations, risks remain. According to László Madas, a judicial aviation expert, given the situation in Europe, it is a realistic scenario that airlines may be forced to cancel flights in the near future, even from one day to the next. The airport operator therefore advises passengers to regularly check the status of their flights on the airlines’ official websites before departure.