BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian officials said Monday they are taking emergency measures to ensure flights in the South American country can operate on schedule, after two of the country’s largest airlines reported a shortage of jet fuel over the weekend and said they would suspend ticket sales for some flights this week — and cancel others.
Colombia’s national oil company Ecopetrol said it would import 100,000 barrels of jet fuel in the coming days to boost supplies. The company produces 13,000 barrels of jet fuel a day at its Cartagena refinery, but production was disrupted by a power outage earlier this month.
Ecopetrol reported that kerosene production at its two refineries has returned to normal levels, but the company’s president, Ricardo Roa, told Colombian radio station Blu on Monday that demand for kerosene has increased by 10%, making Colombia more dependent on fuel imports.
Roa blamed private jet fuel distributors for the current situation, saying they had ignored warnings to import more fuel to meet growing demand.
José María Córdova Airport in Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, reported in a message on X that eight domestic flights were canceled Monday morning due to fuel shortages.
But Colombia’s Chairman Gustavo Petro said on X that there were “no shortages” of jet fuel, but “an irregular situation that is being investigated.” And Transport Minister María Constanza García said there was enough jet fuel in the country, but that airports were currently facing “logistical” problems.
The Civil Aviation Authority on Sunday issued a regulation allowing airlines to cancel flights between August 28 and September 4 if fuel is not available.
Avianca, Colombia’s largest airline, said Monday that customers with flights between August 26 and September 4 can change their reservations free of charge.
The airline also said that extra fuel will be loaded onto planes flying abroad so that the aircraft can fly back to Colombia.
“Our priority now is to protect our passengers and their flight plans and maintain connectivity,” Avianca CEO Federico Pedreira said in a statement. “This situation demonstrates the need for better coordination between those in the supply chain to ensure greater clarity on fuel supplies and availability.”
Latam, Colombia’s second-largest airline, said in a statement Monday that it will cancel 36 flights scheduled for Tuesday to “optimize” current fuel supplies.
