Airlines still reeling from JKIA fuel hitch

By Jackson Okoth

Airlines operating to and from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport are still counting their losses after disruptions in jet fuel supply on Monday.

The hitches in the airport’s hydrant system led to the disruption of flights, and some cancellations.

“While we are still assessing the situation to get a full picture, the losses suffered by airlines due to the disruption is significant,” said Elijah Chingosho, the secretary-general of the African Airlines Association.

In such circumstances, each airline has a delay compensation policy, including provision of refreshments to passengers for any delay that is longer than two hours.

After this period, airlines must reschedule flights, re-route passengers or buy them other tickets.

“The loss suffered is not only financial but also long-term damage to an airline’s reputation. An airline flying into a busy airport such as Heathrow could lose its landing or take-off slot after such an event,” said Chingosho.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Kenya Pipeline management assured passengers that normal service had resumed following the incident.

Monitoring system

“At 1630 hours, Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Embakasi Depot monitoring system detected a drop in pressure in the hydrant system that supplies fuel to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, resulting in low supply of Jet A1 fuel to the airport hydrant system,” said Charles Tanui, KPC’s acting managing director.

He added that KPC engineers realised the problem was caused by an airlock in the hydrant system following flow turbulence while pumping between 4pm and 4.30pm.

“The situation was rectified and services resumed at JKIA,” he said.

KPC said that normal re-fuelling operations restarted at 8.30pm, and assured stakeholders that operations at the Embakasi depot were back to normal.