Mules to pumps as fuel cuts bite

Auckland Airport has increased the number of aircraft using a flight path usually capped due to noise levels.

The move, a response to the jet fuel crisis, will save about 2000 litres a day, the airport said.

Regular supplies to Auckland have been cut after a 168-kilometre pipeline carrying virtually all of Auckland’s jet fuel, petrol and diesel from the oil refinery at Marsden Point, sprang a leak last week.

The temporary increase in the use of the Green X23A Smart Approach flight path will remain in place until the pipeline is repaired and oil companies stop rationing fuel to airlines.

An extra 10 aircraft a day will be permitted to use the satellite-guided flight path, which is usually capped at 10 flights a day.

Justin Tighe-Umbers, executive director of the Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand, said the amount of fuel saved per day was almost enough for an A320 aircraft to fly from Auckland to Wellington.

At least 123 flights have been cancelled as a result of the jet fuel crisis, with more delayed and thousands of passengers affected.

And Qantas is flying in its jets to refuel others.

The ‘‘fuel mule’’ Boeing

747-400ER and an Airbus A330 have been doing late night top-ups of smaller Jetstar and Qantas New Zealand domestic aircraft.

Without passengers, the 747 alone is able to land with nearly

80,000 litres of gas – enough to refill about four smaller Airbus A320 sized aircraft typically used around New Zealand and transTasman. A Qantas spokeswoman said the A330, on a scheduled passenger service, brought in another

12,000 litres.

Airlines fuel allowances have been cut by 70 per cent until at least Thursday, September 28.

The cut has caused significant disruption to domestic and international flights, forcing airlines to take emergency measures including new fuel top-up stopovers. No firm date has been given on the pipeline repair but it could be as early as this Sunday, a fuel industry spokesman said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, HMNZS Endeavour is steaming to Marsden Point to collect thousands of litres of fuel, some of which will be offloaded in Auckland.