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Fuel supply disruption at Budapest Airport: could flights be affected?
The supply of jet fuel to Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport has temporarily decreased, prompting airport authorities to ask airlines to refuel only the minimum necessary amount in Budapest, the airport operator announced. However, Budapest Airport emphasised that flights are operating according to schedule, with no disruptions or cancellations reported.
Temporary measure until the end of October
According to the airport operator, disruptions in the supply chain made it necessary to temporarily amend refuelling rules in order to prevent a decline in fuel reserves. Fuel service providers have requested that airlines plan their operations so that they take on more fuel at their departure airports and only refuel minimally in Budapest.
The restriction has been issued to affected operators in the form of a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) and will remain in force until 31 October, AIRportal.hu reports. Budapest Airport stated that operations are currently running smoothly and that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the situation does not affect passenger traffic.
Cheaper fuel, higher demand
Aviation experts suggest that the current measure is not caused by a fuel shortage but by logistical and market factors. According to aviation journalist Gábor G. Varga, founder of the Egek Ura Blog, Jet A1 fuel is available at competitive prices at Budapest Airport – among the most favourable in Europe, Index reports.
This situation may encourage some airlines to “overfuel” their aircraft in Budapest for commercial reasons – that is, to take on more fuel than necessary for a specific flight and use the surplus for later journeys. This practice, known in the industry as tankering, is now temporarily restricted to ensure sufficient fuel availability for all flights.
Not the first occurrence
A similar situation occurred earlier this summer, in July, when temporary restrictions also had to be introduced due to supply difficulties. Normal operations were restored by early August.
This time, Budapest Airport aims to maintain uninterrupted operations for passengers and ensure that airlines can continue to operate safely and according to schedule. The airport operator expects fuel supplies to normalise within a few weeks, allowing kerosene deliveries to return to their regular pace from November.