Fiji Jet Fuel Supply Disruption Forces Qantas, Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand to Adapt Operations

A jet fuel supply-chain issue at Nadi International Airport prompted Qantas, Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand to change flight operations, with 1.3 million litres of additional fuel released to ease the shortage.

Original report
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Industry impact

The disruption highlights how a single fuel-supply failure at one gateway airport can ripple across multiple international carriers' route planning and refueling strategies.

A jet fuel supply-chain disruption at Nadi International Airport in Fiji has forced several major airlines to alter their operations. Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka confirmed that a batch of Jet A-1 fuel received from one supplier was found to be unusable, causing the shortage, and clarified that earlier reports of contamination from excessive electrical charge were incorrect, stating the problem is a supply-chain issue rather than contamination.

Nadi International Airport, Fiji's main international gateway, handles more than 30 international flights per day. [Qantas](/entities/0851673be8a6537f97323505f9a423d4) switched from its usual Boeing 737 to a larger Airbus A330 on the Sydney-Nadi route to avoid refueling at Nadi. [Virgin Australia](/entities/df2a9f6beacd5d2ab882d704996224d9) cancelled two of its six scheduled Australia-Fiji flights and made intermediate stops in New Caledonia and Vanuatu to refuel, while [Air New Zealand](/entities/4005914701e659a98ea0880baf5ef691) arranged to bring its own fuel to Fiji to maintain services.

An additional 1.3 million litres of Jet A-1 fuel was made available to help alleviate the shortage, with priority given to scheduled flights while non-scheduled flights were advised to source fuel elsewhere. Fiji's Ministry of Civil Aviation reported that conditions are improving and that the issue is expected to be resolved by the end of the month.