Flights may be running on time today: SAA official

SAA passengers left stranded due to fuel shortage

South African Airways (SAA) says flight schedules at Cape Town International Airport might be running on time again this morning. Sarah Uys, SAA spokesperson, says the airline obtained over 300 000 litres of fuel yesterday and was rationing it for each domestic flight.

Fuel became available at the airport at about 6pm last night. However, Kader Jacobs, the supply logistics manager aviation at BP, called on airlines to keep their contingency plans in place for another three or four days, to allow the airport fuel depot to build up a reserve.

Tanks ran dry on Saturday causing airlines and passengers major inconvenience. The problem arose when fuel was found to have been wrongly blended and therefore could not be used until re-refined.

Meanwhile, the SA Petroleum Industry Association has warned motorists in Cape Town and Johannesburg that they may find some petrol pumps dry in their cities. The shortage follows the switch to new refining technology to cope with the withdrawal of leaded petrol on Januray 1, 2006.