Grounding planes ‘a distinct possibility,’ says Philippines amid fuel shortages due to Mideast conflict

The Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that grounding airplanes is a “distinct possibility” in light of the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, which has disrupted Middle Eastern energy supplies.

“Several countries have already told our airlines they cannot fuel their aircraft, so they have to carry fuel there and back,” Marcos told Bloomberg on Tuesday. “The long haul is going to be a much more serious problem.”

Whether Filipino planes may have to be grounded, Marcos said, “We’re hoping not, but it’s a distinct possibility.”

Hostilities in the Middle Eastern region have escalated since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28.

Iran has retaliated with repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

Tehran has also taken control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transportation route through which most energy supplies reach most Asian countries.

• Ferdinand Marcos Jr
• US-Israeli war with Iran