DALLAS — LATAM Airlines Colombia (4C) and its sister companies have been informed of a severe shortage of Jet A1 aviation fuel at Leticia, Montería and Bucaramanga airports, with Bogotá reaching critical levels. This shortage is due to a power outage at the Cartagena refinery on August 16, which caused a nationwide fuel supply crisis.
In response, the airline has initiated a contingency plan that includes carrying additional fuel on international flights, adjusting operations and closely monitoring fuel consumption.
According to Pablo Díaz of aviaciononline.com4C is working with industry stakeholders such as IATA, Aerocivil, the Ministry of Mines and Energy and Ecopetrol to manage the crisis. Ecopetrol has imported 100,000 barrels of Jet A1 fuel, which is due to arrive between August 31 and September 2. Although an initial forecast predicted an 8% deficit in fuel supplies, recent estimates have reduced this to 5%.
Santiago Álvarez, CEO of LATAM Airlines Colombia, stressed the importance of a stable fuel supply for the continuity of flight operations in Colombia and urged the study of long-term solutions to prevent similar crises in the future.
ALTA’s response, recommendations
The Latin American and Caribbean Aviation Association (ALTA) called for immediate government intervention to resolve the fuel crisis, pointing out its potential impact on Colombia’s transport links and economy. ALTA represents 170 civil aviation companies that handle over 80% of air traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean.
ALTA highlights two key areas to address the crisis:
1. Transparency in fuel planning and distribution: Ensure clear capacity planning and fuel management to avoid excessive impacts on airline operating costs and consumer ticket prices.
2. Regulate Jet-A fuel imports: Advocate for regulations that allow the import of fuel from nearby markets, which could increase competition, reduce costs and improve availability.
ALTA also stresses the importance of equitable distribution of fuel among operators and encourages suppliers to work together to avoid shortages. The organization calls for dialogue with authorities and stakeholders to minimize the impact of the crisis on Colombians and air transport users, and underlines the important role of aviation in the country’s economy and public services.
