Avianca limits sales, warns of jet fuel shortage in Colombia

(Bloomberg) — Colombia’s largest airline, Avianca, said it was limiting ticket sales to reduce fuel consumption, even as the government insists supplies have normalized after a refinery outage.

The airline said Monday it was taking steps to save fuel after distributors warned they would limit supplies until early September. The measures include adjusting routes, temporarily suspending online ticket sales and making some fuel stops outside Colombia.

Latam Airlines Group SA said Sunday it had been warned that fuel reserves at Bogota, one of South America’s busiest airports, were at “critical levels,” while there were no reserves at airports in Bucaramanga, Leticia and Monteria.

At the same time, President Gustavo Petro, the Energy Ministry, the Transportation Ministry and state oil company Ecopetrol SA all say fuel supplies are normal.

Ecopetrol’s refinery in Cartagena, on the country’s Caribbean coast, suffered a power outage more than a week ago but is now operating normally, CEO Ricardo Roa said at a news conference on Monday. In the meantime, to meet demand, the state energy company is importing aviation fuel. The company will be able to meet 100% of demand itself from September 1, he added.

In a letter dated August 25 addressed to Transport Minister Maria Constanza Garcia and published by local media, the International Air Transport Association, known as IATA, warned that some companies have announced the suspension of supplies to some airlines at airports such as Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena.

Minister Garcia told reporters that there was enough fuel available to meet demand, and that any shortages could be related to logistical problems. The government is reviewing the decisions made by the airlines, she said, without giving further details.

Petro said in a message on X that Ecopetrol’s jet fuel was fully available and that it would ask regulators to investigate why it was not arriving at some airports.

(Adds Avianca’s comments from first paragraph)

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