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Fuel issues

PostPosted: 17 Mar 2026, 09:45
by catsilversword
Just idly wondering whether airlines have contingency plans for potential fuel shortages, especially given the current political landscape. Anyone know if they have such plans in place?

Re: Fuel issues

PostPosted: 17 Mar 2026, 15:24
by starquake
Heathrow is supplied by pipeline direct from refinierys and storage (ie Buncefield). Least likely place of anywhere to have issues in my opinion (used to work in Oil/Gas industry).

The issue is more the getting staff into work angle I would imagine.

Re: Fuel issues

PostPosted: 17 Mar 2026, 18:01
by catsilversword
Oh I see. I didn’t know that. Is that a similar situations for all airports in the uk or just LHR?

Thanks for the insight!

Re: Fuel issues

PostPosted: 17 Mar 2026, 18:18
by mitchja
MAN airport has a fuel pipeline running from Stanlow, Cheshire. Not sure about other UK airports though but I suspect most of the bigger airports probably do the same.

Re: Fuel issues

PostPosted: 17 Mar 2026, 19:36
by David
Esso’s Fawley terminal has a direct pipeline to Heathrow that supplies JetA to them.

I believe in total, Heathrow uses about 20 million litres per day, so roughly the equivalent of 530 fuel tankers ever single day. Kinda mental when you think of it in those terms. :-D

David.

Re: Fuel issues

PostPosted: 18 Mar 2026, 16:42
by Kraken
I am 99% certain in the past that Heathrow has had fuel supply issues - can't say exactly when but after the Buncefield explosion seems likely. I recall that some TATL flights were taking on reduced fuel at Heathrow and doing a refuel stop at MAN / DUB / SNN / GLA etc before their oceanic crossing.