Airlines forced to fly fuel into Fiji amid major airport contamination issue

Airlines servicing Fiji are being forced to fly in fuel to the island nation as a fuel contamination issue hits the country's international airport.

Virgin Australia yesterday cancelled two services on its Fiji route and confirmed planes are being forced to stop halfway at airports such in New Caledonia and Vanuatu to make the journey back to Australia and Fiji.

In what one pilot described to the ABC as a "very rare" situation, airlines are being asked to fuel up at alternative airports if possible and bring in stockpiles of fuel to Nadi International Airport.

In correspondence seen by the ABC, pilots are being told that there is a "major contamination" and supply cannot be guaranteed in Fiji.

Pilots have been told the problem may continue until the end of the month.

One pilot said he has to bring in "more than 20 tonnes" of fuel to Fiji in order to make the flight back to Australia.

On a standard plane that services Fiji that equates to about one third to a quarter of a tank.

Qantas said it had switched to larger planes, a Boeing 737 to an Airbus A330, for the Sydney-Nadi route to avoid needing to refuel in Nadi.

Sources have told the ABC the contamination issue relates to an excessive electrical charge in a batch of fuel stored at the airport, however it was unclear where the issue originated from.

The source indicated it could be resolved soon or escalate into a more significant issue.

Fiji Airports did not confirm the cause of the contamination issue.

A spokesperson said they were making "operational adjustments" and the airport was "closely monitoring the current aviation fuel situation".

"Nadi International Airport remains open and operational, with established safety and operational protocols being maintained," it said.

Virgin Airlines generally operates six flights a day to and from Fiji, from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. It cancelled two flights yesterday, one to Fiji from Brisbane and its returning flight.

According to tracking sites, flights so far today are scheduled to continue.

A Virgin spokesman described the contamination as a "temporary fuel issue".

"We understand more fuel has arrived into Nadi and is undergoing the standard testing and approval processes required before use," the spokesperson said.

Fiji faces fuel shock

Fiji Airlines is by far the most active in the country, operating about 80 domestic and international flights out of the airport per day.

The airline has been contacted for comment, however sources indicate it is working around the situation with its flights prioritised for refuelling.

This week, local media in Fiji reported the national airline was facing an $80 million surge in its fuel bill, putting further pressure on the airline's finances.

National Broacaster FBC reported the government approved an additional $127 million guarantee to help the national carrier manage rising fuel costs.

Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel said the increase was part of what the government describes as Fiji Airways' biggest fuel shock in more than 50 years.