If you run airport jobs up in Scotland, you may have noticed some disruption over the weekend — both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports were hit by jet fuel supply problems that forced a number of flights to make refuelling stops elsewhere.
The issue emerged on Sunday night. TUI flights leaving Glasgow were routed via Prestwick to take on fuel, while flights from Edinburgh heading to Dubai and Paris stopped off in Manchester to top up. An Emirates service from Edinburgh to Dubai was among those that diverted to Manchester before continuing on its way.
The root of the problem appears to be a staffing issue affecting one of the fuel suppliers used by airlines at the airports. A Glasgow Airport spokesperson described it as a short-term staffing problem with one of its fuel suppliers and said work was underway to return stock levels to normal, adding there had been no related cancellations and the airport remained fully operational. Edinburgh Airport said fuel supply was a matter for individual airlines and that it was assisting where possible, advising passengers to check directly with their airline.
Part of the reason these airports are more exposed to this kind of hiccup is structural. Neither Glasgow nor Edinburgh is connected to the Exolum pipeline that feeds Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester and various RAF bases. Instead, their jet fuel arrives by road tanker — which makes them more vulnerable when there’s a wobble in the supply chain.
A fuel delivery overnight allowed affected airlines to resume normal departures the following morning. British Airways and easyJet both said they hadn’t experienced any problems.
For drivers, the lesson is a familiar one: when flights divert or run late, pickups and drop-offs can get knocked sideways with very little warning. Keeping an eye on flight status before heading to the terminal is always time well spent.
If you cover airport runs and want tools to help plan your shifts around the chaos, take a look at the Taxi Shift Planner over at DriverMatty.com.
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