Both international airlines and Air New Zealand have begun to experience the effects of severe rationing of aviation kerosene imposed by the country’s authorities from this weekend. Under the new rules, airlines will only be able to use about three-quarters of their regular fuel, forcing some flights to be cancelled.
The reasons have nothing to do with the country’s economic capacity, its creditworthiness, or the environment. The problem is that New Zealand received a shipment of jet fuel that, once checked, contained some dangerous contaminants for aircraft.
Officials have ordered immediate access to new fuel, but it will not be available at the pumps used by the planes until Sunday the 18th, so some of these days will have to be cancelled. They affect Air New Zealand the most, and cannot apply that 25 per cent reduction on every flight.
“It makes our flights more complicated and more expensive to operate,” said Keith O’Brien, executive director of an organization that brings together representatives of various airlines operating in the country. With the airline spokesman saying it is expensive, many people choose to fly from overseas to New Zealand with more fuel reserves in their tanks, able to make the return flight normally even with 25 per cent less supply. The cost is that the more cargo, the more expensive the flight.
Around this time and after Christmas, nearly all airlines are flying at maximum capacity, says Brent Thomas, president of the Travel Agents Association. This is the first Christmas in three years without problems due to Covid, which is clearly in demand.
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