SAA Denies Durban Fuel Shortage Claims After Reports Of Jet Fuel Restrictions At King Shaka Airport

South African Airways (SAA) has rejected claims that it is facing fuel supply problems after reports alleged the airline had to transport extra jet fuel into Durban because it could not refuel at King Shaka International Airport.

The allegations surfaced after airline sources claimed flight crews operating between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban were instructed to carry enough fuel for the return journey. According to the claims, aircraft were unable to take on jet fuel after landing in Durban, prompting concerns about the airline’s operations.

Fuel Shortage Claims Spark Questions Over Durban Operations

The alleged SAA fuel shortage has raised questions after insiders claimed pilots attempting to refuel at King Shaka International Airport were told there was no jet fuel available to the airline. The reports further claimed that other carriers continued refuelling as normal despite there being only one aviation fuel supplier at the airport.

One SAA pilot warned that the reported arrangement could create challenges if an aircraft had to divert unexpectedly to Durban without carrying sufficient fuel to continue its journey.

“When something happens and there’s not enough fuel on board to leave Durban again after diverting, what exactly are we going to be able to do?” the pilot said.

Tankering, where an aircraft departs with additional fuel instead of refuelling at its destination, is a recognised practice within commercial aviation. However, aviation industry sources suggested the reported situation at SAA could be linked to commercial or contractual issues.

SAA Rejects Fuel Supply Allegations

SAA has firmly denied that it is experiencing any SAA fuel shortage. The state-owned airline insists its operations remain unaffected and dismissed suggestions that it has encountered fuel supply issues.

Responding to the claims, SAA spokesperson Mphilo Dlamini said:

“Your enquiry seems to propagate an incorrect assumption and narrative that SAA has a fuel supply issue, which is completely untrue.”

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Dlamini added that the airline would not discuss internal operational matters publicly.

“Having said that,” Dlamini added, “we want to state clearly that SAA does not discuss its internal operational matters through the media.

“As we speak, operations continue as scheduled and in accordance with all applicable safety and regulatory requirements. We would therefore caution against the expectation that SAA must deal with all its operational matters through the media.”

The airline also did not answer questions about whether it had switched to purchasing fuel on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Renewed Scrutiny Amid Recent Operational Challenges

The latest SAA fuel shortage claims come as the airline continues to face increased public attention over its leadership and operations. In recent months, SAA has dealt with several high-profile developments that have fuelled debate about the carrier’s stability.

In April, the airline was rocked by the resignations of chief executive Professor John Lamola, three board members and chief financial officer Lindsay Olitzki. Staff reportedly described the airline as facing significant challenges, while aviation experts questioned its governance and succession planning.

The latest allegations also follow an incident involving an Airbus A330 that diverted to Gqeberha during severe weather. The flight reportedly approached minimum fuel reserves before landing safely, placing the airline’s operational procedures under further scrutiny.