The state-owned carrier is the latest to warn of disruptions due to an evolving regional fuel supply crisis.
Photo: Getty Images
On Wednesday, the Zimbabwean flag carrier Air Zimbabwe released a statement advising flight schedule disruptions due to jet fuel shortages. The measures reflect a regional fuel supply crisis that has caused trouble for several airline operations over the past few weeks.The airline made no mention of specific services. The only ones canceled over the past week have been flights between Harare and Johannesburg in South Africa. However, other airports in Africa, such as Dakar International in Senegal (although Air Zimbabwe does not operate to Dakar specifically), temporarily needed to suspend refueling services for two weeks last month. Meanwhile, also in April, Malawi Airlines needed to cut baggage weight by 70% to carry extra fuel from South Africa because of shortages at home.The wholly state-owned Zimbabwean airline did not disclose where the specific supply issue was and simply said ‘at the airports’. It is unclear whether or not Harare’s Robert Gabriel Mugabe International is suffering from shortages or not. A statement issued yesterday, May 11, read,
“Air Zimbabwe wishes to advise its valued passengers and other stakeholders of an anticipated flight schedule disruption due to Jet A1 fuel shortages at the airports. Our suppliers have advised of constraints in the movement of the product which has cascaded along the entire value chain to us as the final consumer of the product.”
Air Zimbabwe said it would endeavor to update passengers on the applicable changes at the earliest possible time as it continues to monitor the situation.
On May 8, Air Zimbabwe canceled flight UM467 from Harare (HRE) to Johannesburg (JNB), along with the return flight UM468. However, the following day, the service was back up and running. The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) claimed as recently as a week ago that Johannesburg has enough jet fuel and pleaded with airlines not to cancel flights.However, the severe fuel shortages brought on by flooding and subsequent rail infrastructure damage have caused several carriers to make round-about trips to Durban (with or without passengers) or suspend services to OR Tambo altogether.
Meanwhile, it is not only natural disasters causing the low supply of fuel. Man-made catastrophes are also playing their part. As the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is driving fuel prices through the roof, suppliers are reducing the amount they hold in stock.
Towards the end of March, Austin Bergstrom International Airport in Texas warned of fuel shortages amid a surge in travel. Buyers for airports on the US East Coast are also anticipating a worsening shortage as supply dwindles due to sanctions on Russian energy exports.
Nigerian airlines called off their flight suspension last minute. Photo: Anna Zvereva via Flickr
African airlines hoping to secure supply from July
As reported by the NewZWire, jet fuel prices have risen to an average of almost 30% of operating costs for African airlines, compared to previous figures of about 20%. Last week, Nigerian Airlines said they would stop flying due to the prohibitive fuel costs and only reversed their plans after the country’s Minister of Aviation pleaded with them to keep their planes in the air.Meanwhile, a number of African airlines have formed a committee to negotiate better prices. It hopes to secure deliveries for 12 months starting in July. Until then, we are bound to see more volatility in the jet fuel supply across the continent.
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Air Zimbabwe operates two Boeing 737-200s, both close to 35 years old. Photo: 
Nigerian airlines called off their flight suspension last minute. Photo:
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