Late Monday, Colombian airlines Avianca and Latam Colombia announced that they would resume most of their flights on Tuesday and fully restore their schedules by Wednesday. Earlier, the airlines had warned of widespread cancellations due to severe jet fuel shortages. However, the situation improved when Avianca received confirmation from the main jet fuel supplier that there would be no further restrictions on fuel availability.
Avianca reported that the resolution of the fuel supply issue allowed it to resume ticket sales for all its routes and maintain its planned flight schedules. Meanwhile, Latam Colombia stated it would fully return to normal operations by Wednesday and had rebooked passengers affected by Tuesday’s cancellations on other flights for the same day.
The disruption significantly impacted Colombia’s aviation industry, with hundreds of passengers stranded and struggling to rebook their flights due to the fuel shortage. This crisis unfolded after a power shortage on August 16 disrupted jet fuel production at an Ecopetrol refinery in Cartagena, leading to reduced fuel availability and cancellations.
Colombian Airlines Avianca and Latam Colombia Set to Resume Flights After Jet Fuel Shortage
On Sunday, Ecopetrol, Colombia’s national oil company, took steps to address the shortage by importing 100,000 barrels of jet fuel to support domestic airlines. The situation was further complicated by local fuel supplier Terpel’s announcement that it would have to cut the amount of fuel supplied to airports due to production issues.
By late Monday, Ecopetrol President Ricardo Roa indicated that jet fuel production had been restored but criticized distributors for not meeting the increased demand. President Gustavo Petro and Transportation Minister María Constanza García both stated that while there was enough jet fuel in the country, logistical issues at airports were contributing to the confusion.
The civil aviation authority’s earlier ordinance allowing flight cancellations was rescinded once it was confirmed that fuel supplies were sufficient. Avianca CEO Federico Pedreira expressed relief at the resolution and stressed the importance of better communication and planning within the fuel supply chain.
