Lufthansa is preparing to introduce refueling stopovers if destination airports run short of jet fuel due to the war in the Middle East, the airline group’s CEO said on Wednesday.
The measure would allow the German carrier to maintain its most profitable long-haul routes despite potential fuel shortages. The sector is facing a growing crisis because of the halt in tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for about half of the EU’s jet fuel imports.
“If you will not reach your target airport with the fuel that you’ve got, then you have to do refueling stops. We’re not there yet, but of course we are preparing for this,” Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said during the presentation of the company’s first-quarter results.
The idea of adding refueling stops is not new.
