Sri Lanka is recommending that airlines carry enough jet fuel to last return trips or fill up elsewhere, as the island grapples with a shortage of everything from oil to food due to a foreign-exchange crisis, Bloomberg reported yesterday (31 May).
“We’ve asked airlines to carry the required fuel while operating to Sri Lanka, because there is a shortage of aviation fuel, and we have to manage the situation,” Rayhan Wanniappa, a director of Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority, told Bloomberg in a phone interview on Monday (30 May). “Airlines are bringing certain additional supplies, while we are also providing from our stocks.”
The Morning reported last week that there is a danger of international airlines reducing the number of flights to Sri Lanka due to refuelling-related concerns, in an article headlined “Foreign airlines to reduce flights to Sri Lanka?”.
Well-placed aviation industry sources told The Morning on 25 May that whilst there was enough fuel for refuelling purposes as of that day, there were concerns about the availability of supplies in the coming weeks.
“The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) has to carefully manage the fuel that they have at the moment. Some aircrafts refuel at airports in Sri Lanka. If they cannot find fuel in Sri Lanka, then they have to carry fuel with them for refuelling purposes when they come to Sri Lanka, and that in turn is a loss for them,” they said.
They explained that if aircraft carry their own fuel and fly in, then the weight of the cargo and the number of passengers that they can carry is reduced, which in turn inevitably affects their costs.
“About 500,000 litres of jet fuel is needed per day. This is obtained from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). If they can ensure a constant supply in the coming weeks, then it will not be a problem,” they said.
The Bloomberg report goes on to say that airlines that fly to Sri Lanka, including Dubai’s Emirates Airline, are tankering – carrying more fuel than required – while the national carrier SriLankan Airlines is using Chennai and Dubai to refuel for long-haul flights, quoting people familiar with the matter who declined to be identified as plans are confidential. There is increased refuelling at southern Indian airports by international flights to and from Colombo to offset the shortage, according to an official at Indian Oil Corp.
However, Airport and Aviation Services Chairman G.A. Chandrasiri, had told Bloomberg that there has been no impact on airport and airline operations. “This is just a preventive measure,” he said.
SL tells airlines to bring full tank or fill elsewhere
01 Jun 2022
SL tells airlines to bring full tank or fill elsewhere
01 Jun 2022
Kapruka
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!