LATAM Airlines Colombia and the subsidiaries of the LATAM Group operating in the country were informed of the exhaustion of Aviation fuel Jet A1 Inventory levels at Leticia, Montería and Bucaramanga airports have increased, while levels in Bogotá have fallen to critical levels. This situation is due to a power outage at the Cartagena refinery on August 16, which triggered a fuel supply crisis throughout Colombia.
Since the beginning of the week, LATAM Airlines has implemented a contingency plan to control fuel consumption and ensure compliance with flight schedules. These measures include filling international flights departing from Colombia with additional fuel, adapting operational procedures and closely monitoring fuel consumption at each airport in the country.
In addition, the aviation industry works through IATA with AerospaceThe Supervision of trafficThe Ministry of Mines and EnergyAnd Eco-petrol to monitor the situation and determine measures to contain the crisis until the imported fuel arrives. Ecopetrol has imported 100,000 barrels of Jet A1, which are expected to arrive between August 31 and September 2.
On August 21, Ecopetrol reported that the power outage at the Cartagena refinery would lead to an 8% deficit in Jet A1 supplies across the country. However, recent forecasts have reduced this deficit to 5%.
“Ensuring the supply of aviation fuel in the country is crucial for the stability of air operations in Colombia. It is important to examine structural measures that provide better tools to respond to such emergencies, which would most affect our passengers,” explained Santiago Alvarez, CEO of LATAM Airlines Colombia.
ALTA calls for the issue to be treated as a “state matter”
The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) stressed the urgency of resolving the Fuel supply crisis for Jet A1 in Colombia as State matterThis organization, which represents 170 companies in the civil aviation ecosystem in the region, including airlines responsible for more than 80% of air traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean, warns of the potential impact of the situation on the country’s connectivity and economy.
In light of the power outage at the Cartagena refinery on August 16, which required fuel imports, ALTA underlines the importance of maintaining a reliable fuel supply. vital for the more than 52 flights that take off and land in Colombia every hourThis operating pace, which depends on a daily consumption of over a million gallons of fuel, is Of crucial importance is connectivity, which allows the arrival of four million tourists and the transport of 120,000 passengers daily through more than 20 commercial airports in the country.
ALTA highlights two crucial aspects to overcome the current crisis and maintain the profitability of air transport in Colombia:
1. Transparency in fuel planning and distribution: It is crucial to provide clarity in capacity planning mechanisms in relation to demand and in the management of fuel stocks. This will avoid placing an excessive burden on the operating costs of airlines, which already spend 35% of their expenditure on fuel. Poor planning could drive up ticket prices and harm consumers.
2. Regulation for the import of JET A fuel: ALTA is calling for the publication of regulations that would allow the import of JET A fuel from nearby markets. This could promote competition, reduce costs and improve availability, benefiting the entire industry and ultimately passengers.
ALTA also stresses the need to ensure a fair fuel supply for all operators, whether through direct sales or brokers, and Share inventory information to avoid shortages. The association emphasizes that, given the current threat, cooperation between suppliers is essential.
In its appeal to the authorities, ALTA urges them to prioritize dialogue with operators and stakeholders to develop solutions that minimize the impact on Colombians and air transport users. “The aviation industry in Colombia is indispensable,” ALTA stresses that tourism contributes 5% to national GDP and that air transport is a fundamental public service.
