German aviation sees Russian oil embargo as manageable -Handelsblatt

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germany’s aviation industry views the European Union’s planned phase-out of Russian oil imports as manageable, though Berlin’s airport will be hurt more than others, Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Tuesday.

“As things stand, in case of an embargo on Russian oil, we expect to be able to secure the supply of sufficient kerosene at German airports for the most part,” Matthias von Randow, chief executive of aviation association BDL, told Handelsblatt.

He added the situation would be more difficult at the Berlin BER airport as it largely depends on supplies from the Schwedt refinery, which currently relies on Russian oil, and would need alternative supplies.

“According to our information, the oil companies are working on this,” von Randow told the newspaper.

The ADV airport association and Germany’s flag carrier Lufthansa also told the newspaper they were confident lost crude oil supplies from Russia could be replaced from other sources.

However, the German fuels and energy trade association en2x, said the situation was “not trivial”, especially when considering logistical requirements for alternative transport and delivery routes, Handelsblatt reported.

(Reporting by Zuzanna Szymanska; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)