The Colombian government said Monday that there are problems with the supply of jet fuel following increased demand and a recent power failure at one of its refineries that, although it has not caused a shortage, has led to flight cancellations.
President Gustavo Petro said that “there is no fuel shortage” and indicated on Monday on X, formerly Twitter, that he will ask the entities that oversee companies to “investigate why fuel is not arriving at some airports.”
Fuel and transportation officials in the country sought to reassure the public after the airline Latam announced in a statement on Sunday that, according to its distributors, fuel inventories had run out at the airports of the capital cities of Leticia, Montería and Bucaramanga, while in Bogotá —which concentrates more than 60% of the national operation— it was “reducing to critical levels.”
Latam announced in a statement on Monday that it will cancel 36 flights on Tuesday, without detailing the affected itineraries, and argued that it intends to “optimize the inventories that fuel distributors have declared to us.”
Transport Minister María Constanza García warned from X that they will begin investigations into airlines for the cancellation of flights without due process, which she indicated includes reporting cancellations 24 hours in advance.
Ecopetrol President Ricardo Roa told reporters that 95% of the current demand for fuel used for air operations is currently available after experiencing an electrical failure at the Cartagena refinery on August 16, which caused a delay in production.
To offset the resulting deficit, state-owned Ecopetrol, the country’s largest oil company, will import 100,000 barrels of fuel starting Sept. 1, Roa said. The import would generate an additional $10 increase per barrel.
In the midst of the contingency, airlines have begun to take measures that in some cases have led to the cancellation of flights or changes in itineraries. Neither the Ministry of Transport nor Civil Aeronautics have reported the total number of cancelled flights, however, the Medellín airport has warned about the cancellation of eight flights.
Avianca, one of the main airlines operating in the country, said in a statement on Monday that it will take emergency measures after being informed by distributors that fuel deliveries would be limited throughout the country for the rest of the month.
The airline said some flights will be temporarily closed to sales – without indicating until when – to allow for options to accommodate passengers or due to fuel restrictions.
Itineraries will also be adjusted on flights “impacted by the external situation” and customers will be able to request the rearrangement of their flights scheduled between August 25 and September 4.
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