Airports affected by fuel shortages in Colombia
During the last few weeks, several airports in Colombia have announced a serious jet fuel shortage crisis. This situation has caused cancellations and delays in numerous flights, affecting thousands of passengers. Jet A1 fuel shortages have reached critical levels in several parts of the country.
Airports affected by fuel shortages
Rafael Núñez International Airport (Cartagena)
Rafael Núñez International Airport in Cartagena has been one of the most affected. Since August 23, fuel supplier WFS completely suspended supply to one airline, and as of August 26, Terpel also suspended supply to three airlines. This situation has generated great concern, especially as Cartagena is a key tourist destination.
El Dorado Airport (Bogotá)
The country’s main airport, El Dorado in Bogota, also faces a critical situation. Suppliers Terpel and Chevron have stated that fuel inventories are at alarmingly low levels. Since August 25, several airlines have started to cancel flights due to fuel shortages.
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José María Córdova Airport (Medellín)
In Medellín, José María Córdova Airport has also been affected. Suppliers Terpel and WFS have warned about critical inventory levels since August 25, which could affect the operations of airlines using this airport.
Other airports affected by fuel crisis
– Leticia
– Montería
– Bucaramanga
These have been the most affected, as their fuel inventories have been completely depleted, forcing airlines to cancel flights and look for alternatives to refuel at other airports.
Causes of the shortage
The main cause of this crisis is an electrical failure at the Cartagena Refinery on August 16. This failure has caused a deficit in the production of Jet A1 aviation fuel, essential for air operations. Despite Ecopetrol’s efforts to import 100,000 barrels of fuel, which are expected to arrive between August 31 and September 2, the situation remains critical.
In addition to that, President Gustavo Petro made a statement on the fuel crisis, assuring that there is no shortage of jet fuel and that the situation is due to an irregular activity that is already under investigation. Likewise, the president of Ecopetrol, Ricardo Roa, informed that the Cartagena refinery has resumed its normal operation and that an increase in fuel production is expected in the next few days.
Contingency measures
To mitigate the effects of this crisis, airlines and the government have implemented several contingency measures. These include the importation of additional fuel and the adoption of practices such as “tankering”, which consists of loading more fuel at unaffected airports to reduce consumption at airports with shortages.
Impact on passengers
Fuel shortages have had a significant impact on passengers, with multiple flights cancelled and delayed. Airlines are working to relocate those affected and minimize disruptions, but the situation remains uncertain.
With information from Noticias Caracol
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