Oil Giant Shuts Off Jet Fuel for Airport Over Quality Fears

OIL giant Shell shut off jet fuel supplies to Manchester Airport because of quality problems, it was revealed last night.

Airport chiefs said they were confident that flights would not be affected by the fuel shortage.

Alternative sources of aviation fuel are being sought and the airport has advised airlines operating short-haul flights to fill up their planes before they arrive at Manchester.

However, long-haul flights may have to make a detour to refuel elsewhere before heading back to their destinations.

The airport said rationing of supplies already in its fuel tanks might also be needed.

A spokeswoman for Shell said there had been short-term problems with the quality of some fuel batches from its Stanlow refinery at Ellesmere Port since Wednesday.

But she said none of this fuel reached the airport and the problem had now been fixed.

An airport spokesman said: “We do not expect this to lead to any problems with flights and we have every confidence that supplies will be restored without any impact on the operation.”

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