Philippine airlines face potential grounding over jet fuel shortage

WorldBusiness & Finance
24 Mar 2026 • 3:22 PM MYT
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr warns of possible flight disruptions as airlines struggle to secure fuel amid Middle East conflict.

MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has warned that grounding aircraft due to a jet fuel shortage is a “distinct possibility”.

He told Bloomberg News that several countries have informed Philippine airlines they cannot refuel aircraft.

This forces operators to carry fuel for both outbound and return journeys.

The shortage stems from the US-Israeli war with Iran, which has disrupted global air travel.

Middle Eastern hubs, including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, have been forced to close.

This has stranded tens of thousands of passengers worldwide.

Other Asian countries are also preparing for the impact.

Vietnam has said airlines are preparing to implement fuel surcharges on international routes from early April.