PARIS: Passenger flights could be grounded in the next two months because of a global shortage of aviation fuel caused by the Middle East war, industry experts warned on Thursday. Countries in Asia are likely to be affected first, followed by Europe. Both rely on oil from the Gulf and its refineries for their supplies. “The situation can, within the next three, four weeks, become systemic,” energy economist Claudio Galimberti said. “So you can have severe cuts of flights in Europe, already starting in May and June.” Flights had already been canceled because of fuel shortages, he said.

'We've seen constraints in countries like Vietnam and Thailand on air travel, but this is also spilling over to Europe,' an ING analyst told CNBC.

Flights could soon be cancelled if supplies from the Gulf remain blocked, says the International Energy Agency.