There are indications that air passengers are likely to experience difficult times at the nation�s airports as the scarcity of aviation fuel hits the airline industry.
Investigations by our correspondent on Friday showed that most airlines are already flying with the reserve of fuel in their storage, and the situation might cripple flight operations. The scarcity of the commodity has been attributed to inability of the importers and marketers to distribute the commodity to users.
It was also garthered that that a large quantity of aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET-A1, had been downgraded into kerosene after its long stay on the high sea. One of the marketers who pleaded anonymity said, �Yes, there is scarcity of the commodity and we are trying to resolve it before it leads to dislocation in air travel.�
The source confirmed that an unspecified quantity of the commodity was downgraded to kerosene because of the danger its expiration it poses to aircraft. According to him, �We discovered that the fuel we got had expired because it stayed for over two months on the sea. That type of commodity cannot be supplied to the airline industry, because of the sensitive nature of aircraft and the industry. So, the product had to be converted to kerosene.�
When contacted, the Managing Director, Ramaniyyah Airlines, Alhaji Mohammed Turkur, said that the airline operators were discussing with the marketers on how to make sure that the effect does not bite too hard on passengers. Tukur explained that already, airlines were making use of their reserves, an indication that things might get worse by the weekend.
Operators of local and international flights, according to him, are already seeking alternatives on where and how to refuel. A visit to the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos showed that passengers were apprehensive of the situation at hand.
A traveller to Abuja, who is billed to come back on Monday, called on the marketers and the airlines to ensure that the problem is resolved to avoid dislocation in travel plans.
Aug252007