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Airport limits some general-aviation fuel sales amid record demand; commission to develop fuel strategy
Summary
With record fuel sales and intermittent shortages this summer, airport staff announced temporary uplift restrictions for general aviation and commissioners asked staff to develop a strategy for fuel volumes, storage and negotiations with the steamship company that controls deliveries.
Airport management told the commission on Aug. 12 that fuel sales continue at record levels and that the airport will impose temporary limits on general‑aviation fuel uplift during periods of heavy demand to ensure airline supply.
Manager Warren Smith said the airport had set temporary uplift limits for a recent weekend and was preparing a NOTAM limiting general‑aviation purchases for the period beginning tomorrow at 7 a.m. through Thursday at 10 p.m. Staff said the NOTAM could be lifted sooner if fuel availability improves.
Staff explained that fuel reservations and delivery capacity are constrained by the island’s shipping schedule. Commissioners raised concerns about the practice of prioritizing commercial airlines over general‑aviation customers and asked staff to develop a comprehensive plan. The commission agreed to make fuel strategy a standing agenda item for the next meeting, with staff and consultant input to document historical restrictions, the frequency of uplift limits, reservation denials from the steamship company and storage‑capacity options.
Staff recommended collecting data on daily consumption, reservation denials and storage capacity to prepare a documented strategy that could be used in discussions with the steamship representative and fuel supplier. The commission requested that staff invite the fuel supplier and the steamship operator to a future meeting or provide written responses about reservation policy and delivery limits.
