NAIROBI: The war in Iran is driving up jet fuel prices and worsening supply strains for African airlines, forcing carriers to review routes and raising fresh concerns about the stability of the continent’s aviation network.
The African Airlines Association says the crisis has exposed its heavy dependence on imported refined jet fuel, leaving airlines vulnerable to global shocks.
African carriers were already paying about 17 percent more for jet fuel than the global average before the war in Iran, according to AFRAA. The new price pressures are adding to already thin margins across the sector.
Supply disruptions have raised concerns at major hubs, including Nairobi, Kenya, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where consistent jet fuel availability is critical to regional and international operations.
“The impact is dire and a major shock for our members,” said AFRAA Secretary-General Abderahmane Berthe.
