Commercial jet fuel stocks are "declining" due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz. And although for now "the market is managing the supply shortage, " the European Union "should begin preparing for the possible consequences" if the Middle East crisis "were to drag on beyond the end of May."

In other words, several flights are at risk of being canceled from June onwards. And if the crisis continues, the entire air transport system could be at risk by autumn .

This is what emerged from the meetings of the Oil Coordination Group and the EU Energy Task Force, in which EU experts reiterated the importance of coordinating the release of emergency stocks .

The meeting, a statement explains, included experts from the European Commission, industry, EU countries, the International Energy Agency, and NATO to discuss the security of Europe's gas and oil supply, as the Middle East conflict approaches its tenth week. Regarding gas, it was confirmed that the security of supply remains largely unchanged, with reserves already being replenished.

In short, the data isn't reassuring, if we're talking about calling for the release of emergency supplies "to be coordinated" at the European level. But the meeting didn't produce any solutions.

And what about Sardinia? The first repercussions could be felt with some cancellations during the summer. And continuity is also at risk, given that airlines—as Minister Salvini said—are pushing to increase flight fares .

«We have a ministerial decree that cannot be modified without the consent of the Region», recalls Alessandra Todde , although «aware» of the increase in fuel costs.

But if the crisis were to continue for months, there's a real risk that planes will be grounded until the fall. The Region is banking on Saras: "It has given us guarantees regarding jet fuel coverage," explains the president, who announced that she has asked the ministry to open "a discussion to determine what our share should be—and we won't back down—and what the government's share should be."

Todde, however, is keen to emphasize one thing, speaking on the sidelines of the celebrations for Sant'Efisio: "We are an island, and it's unthinkable to treat us like other regions of Italy. A Sardinian citizen can't take a train to travel within Italy and the rest of Europe. We are tied to ships and planes; Sardinia must be treated with special consideration in this regard."

(Unioneonline/L)

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