The company that runs South Africa’s airports has warned of further delays in the supply of jet fuel at Cape Town International Airport amid reports that a ship carrying the commodity has been affected by rough seas.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) said on Wednesday that rough seas are delaying the arrival of a shipment of aircraft fuel in a development likely to trigger flight cancellations at the airport.
The vessel was supposed to have arrived in Cape Town on September 25, causing panic since the airport reportedly has enough jet fuel stocks to last up to this weekend.
The ship is now expected to arrive at the end of the week.
“ACSA continues to engage fuel suppliers and airlines to prevent the risk of a fuel supply and to prevent and minimize flight disruptions,” the company said.
The development has seen ACSA rationing the amount of fuel it allocates to airlines using the airport.
The fuel rationing has angered the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), an umbrella group of airlines from the Southern African Development Community region.
In a statement late Tuesday, AASA warned that jet fuel rationing could result in airline schedule disruptions and possibly flight cancellations.
“The AASA appreciates the efforts made by the ACSA to manage fuel stocks at Cape Town International Airport. However, the escalation of aircraft fuel rations focuses on South Africa’s vulnerability due to its dependence from imported aircraft fuel, “the association said.
JN/APA