Some areas in the western U.S. are experiencing a shortage of jet fuel. Shortfalls in supply, which have disrupted normal operations, are being felt at airports ranging from California’s Fresno Yosemite International and Nevada’s Reno-Tahoe International to Montana’s Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
On Monday, NBAA’s Air Traffic Services reported that Colorado’s Eagle County Regional Airport has imposed a 200-gallon maximum uplift per aircraft. Aircraft operators are advised to monitor the fuel situation at their intended destination and either make a refueling stop at an unaffected airport or tanker fuel.
According to Tracie Yergin, Avfuel’s v-p of fuel supply, “This issue is a result of a number of factors: an unprecedented increase in demand for aviation fuel in a relatively short amount of time; weather-related issues and turnarounds at some refineries resulting in reduced production rates, causing refiners to allocate available fuel for all suppliers industry-wide; the remaining refineries not having the extra capacity to make up for this loss; and a nationwide truck driver shortage.” He told AIN that the situation is further exacerbated by heightened demand from imperative firefighting operations in the region that are most heavily affected by the fuel shortage.
The problem could last into mid-August and might affect other airports, according to industry reports.