Aviation fuel shortage affects flights

Accra, Sept. 14, GNA -- More than 100 passengers of Belview Airline were on Thursday stranded at the Kotoka International Airport after its flight from Lagos to Accra was cancelled because of shortage of aviation fuel in Ghana.

A source at the airline told the GNA in an interview that steps were being made to assist the passengers until a new flight was arranged for them.

The shortage was believed to have emanated from the Tema Oil Refinery.

The airline officials said the only assurance they had from the refuelling agents was that the situation would be rectified as soon as possible.

The fuel shortage, which began on Monday, led to some airlines re-scheduling their flight while others changed their routes. Mr Beadford Otu, Station Manager, Emirates Airlines, said instead of their usual flight from Dubai to Accra, then to Abidjan and back to Accra their flight would now go to Abidjan first before coming to Accra then back to Abidjan for fuel before returning to Dubai. He said these changes had operational cost implications for the Airline.

Mr Ibrahim Gueye, Station Manager, Alitalia Airlines, said the Airline's flight would refuel at Lagos as a result of the situation. He said that was not most convenient since it was ideal to re-fuel in Ghana.

A Source at the office of KLM said the Airline's flight would re-fuel at Niamey in Niger adding that it was going to be costly in terms of time.

The flight would have to leave Accra much earlier than the schedules time as a result of the situation, the Source said.