Key Takeaways
- Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary predicts no European jet fuel shortages into summer 2027.
- High jet fuel prices are expected to persist for another 12 to 18 months.
- Persistent high costs could continue to influence airfares for European travellers.
According to a report by Euronews published on 8 October 2026, Ryanair Chief Executive Officer Michael O'Leary expects Europe to maintain sufficient jet fuel supplies through to the summer of 2027. However, the airline boss cautioned that consumers and carriers alike must prepare for elevated fuel prices to remain a fixture of the aviation market for the next 12 to 18 months, driven by ongoing global market pressures. This outlook carries significant weight across the European Union, where aviation stakeholders navigate complex energy markets, strict environmental mandates such as ReFuelEU Aviation, and fluctuating global crude oil supplies. While physical supply security remains stable according to the low-cost carrier's leadership, persistent high costs highlight the vulnerability of European transport to external energy shocks and geopolitical tensions affecting refinery outputs and import routes. For European travellers and businesses, prolonged high fuel costs threaten to keep airfares elevated as carriers factor these overheads into ticket pricing. Policymakers and industry analysts will closely monitor supply chain resilience and pricing trends over the coming year to assess the broader economic impact on the bloc's tourism sector and single market connectivity ahead of the 2027 summer travel season.
Source: Euronews. Read the original report ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Europe face jet fuel shortages before summer 2027?
No, according to Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, Europe is expected to have sufficient jet fuel supplies through to the summer of 2027.
How long are high jet fuel prices expected to last?
Elevated jet fuel prices are projected to persist for another 12 to 18 months.