Please Note: This news story has expired and is held in our business travel news archive. The story is shown here for information purposes only. Please click here to view our current news releases.

UPDATED: Fuel Rationing Follows Buncefield Depot Fire

1st February 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: American Airlines Adds Fuel Surcharge to and from London Heathrow Airport
------------------------------------------------------------

American Airlines has advised the TD Travel Group that, effective immediately, it is adding a fuel surcharge specific to London Heathrow.

The move is to help offset the significant expenses associated with flying in extra fuel from the United States to Heathrow. This has become necessary to make up the shortfall in local jet fuel supply caused by the Buncefield oil depot fire on December 11, 2005.

The Heathrow fuel shortfall is expected to continue for some time. As a result, for transatlantic flights to and from Heathrow, there will be an additional surcharge of £3.00 each way.

“While we are mindful of keeping fares as low as possible for our customers, we must offset the substantial costs we are currently incurring from flying in fuel from the US to operate our full schedule from Heathrow,” said Craig Kreeger, American’s Vice President Europe and Pacific.

------------------------------------------------------------
Original Story posted: Thursday 15th December 2005
------------------------------------------------------------

Airlines using Heathrow are facing fuel rationing as a result of the Buncefield oil fire.

The Hertfordshire terminal was linked to Heathrow by a pipeline and, in the immediate aftermath of the blast, the airport said it had enough supplies for 48 hours.

Stocks of aviation fuel are 30 per cent lower than normal, despite previous claims that the blaze would not affect supplies. Airlines have been told they will receive only two-fifths of their usual fuel for short-haul flights and only two-thirds for long-haul.

Carriers denied that there would be any delays or cancellations as a result of the shortage, although some long-haul flights were now including extra refuelling stops.

A spokesman for Heathrow said contingency plans had enabled the airport to "continue near normal" operations for 186,000 passengers that fly to and from the airport every day "with minor disruption to some passengers and no cancellation of flights".

Further Information:
Heathrow Airport - http://www.heathrowairport.com/
The Scotsman - http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=2410122005

Airline Updates
----------------------
Singapore Airlines
------------------------

Singapore Airlines have informed TD Travel that following the news announced above, their SQ319 service from London Heathrow to Singapore will be affected.

SQ317 (daily departure at 1100 hrs)
this flight will fly non-stop from London Heathrow to Singapore

SQ319 (daily departure at 1815 hrs)
this flight will operate via Frankfurt for refuelling only. As a consequence, the rescheduled arrival time into Singapore will be 1640 hrs the following day: a delay of 1 hour and 45 minutes.

SQ321 (daily departure at 2215 hrs)
this flight will fly non-stop from London Heathrow to Singapore

This will affect the SQ319 service from the 15th to 28th December 2005.

Flights from Singapore TO London Heathrow are operating normally.

Further Information:
Singapore Airlines - www.singaporeair.com.sg

SAA to divert London-Joburg flight
---------------------------------------

South African Airways will divert one of its two daily London to Johannesburg flights to Milan for refuelling as a result of the fuel shortage at London Heathrow airport.

"Passengers on the diverted aircraft who are due to connect onto domestic flights when arriving in Johannesburg will be re-accommodated on later flights," SAA's general manager of flight operations, Captain Colin Jordaan, said in a statement.

SAA's other daily flight to Johannesburg and the third to Cape Town will operate non-stop from London as scheduled. SA221 to Cape Town may be diverted on certain days, he cautioned.

Further Information:
South African Airways - www.flysaa.com

Follow our travel updates on Twitter: @_BusinessTravel