You’ve been reading about the Biden economy’s food and material shortages. Now a fuel shortage is taking shape. Airlines are reporting a lack of jet fuel available at airports, especially in the western half of the country. CNBC’s Leslie Josephs reports:
American Airlines on Monday said it might have to add stops to certain flights because of fuel delivery delays at some small and midsize airports and asked pilots to save fuel when possible, the latest headache during a surge in summer travel.
The carrier said airlines, including American, have experienced the delays due to a lack of truck drivers, trucks and fuel supply.
“American Airlines station jet fuel delivery delays initially affected mostly western U.S. cities, but are now being reported at American stations across the country. Delivery delays are expected to continue through mid-August,” John Dudley, managing director of flight operations, told pilots in a memo, which was reviewed by CNBC.
The airline said flights will carry additional fuel into airports affected by shortages, a procedure known as tankering or add fueling stops.
“As our country continues to face multiple challenges, let’s work together as a team to operate reliably, safely and as efficiently as possible,” Dudley wrote. He asked that pilots to use fuel saving strategies such as taxiing with a single engine.
American said that the flight disruptions because of fuel supply shortages have so far been “minimal” and that it hasn’t had to cancel any flights as a result of them.
“Our team continues to work around the clock to monitor the situation and minimize the impact on our customers,” the airline said Monday in statement.
A Delta Air Lines spokesman said the carrier has seen some fuel delay issues at some smaller Western airports but that it hasn’t had operational problems as a result. Southwest Airlines also hasn’t had any disruptions because of fuel issues, but it could turn to tankering if needed, a spokesman said.
“We have been and continue to be in communication with federal authorities and pipeline operators to address this jet fuel capacity issue,” said Airlines for America, which represents most large U.S. carriers.
Action Line: When an administration is opposed to expanding pipelines or drilling to fuel a growing economy, you can’t expect the economy to grow for long without problems like this. If you’re serious about surviving the Biden economy, click here to sign up for my free Survive & Thrive monthly newsletter. But only if you’re serious.
