Due to roadblocks, Crotone and Reggio Calabria airports are experiencing a shortage of fuel for planes. In Lamezia Terme, however, there are no problems and operations are proceeding regularly. The communication arrived on 21 October from ENAV in a NOTAM, i.e. in the official notice informing pilots and flight personnel. The notice states that, for Crotone and Reggio Calabria, "pilots must therefore plan to refuel at the departure or previous airport, in sufficient quantity for the subsequent routes".
Going into detail, for Regio Calabria we read: "The Notam advises that from 10pm UTC on 20th October until 10pm UTC on 24th October (unless otherwise provided), at the Reggio Calabria Airport (Licr) it will not be possible to stock up on jet fuel (Jet A1) or aviation petrol (Avgas 100LL). The end date is indicated as estimated".
For Crotone, we then read: "From 20 October at 10pm UTC to 23 October at 10pm UTC, Jet A1 fuel is not available at Crotone Airport (Libc). Pilots must therefore plan to refuel at the departure or previous airport, in sufficient quantity for the subsequent routes".
Sacal, the management company of the three Calabrian airports, has assured that there are no problems with flights. "Thanks to the operational procedures already in place, no impacts on the regularity of flights scheduled in the next few days are expected", the company specified, commenting on the notice of unavailability of aeronautical fuel in two Calabrian airports. "Sacal took prompt action to restore regular fuel availability for the day" of October 22nd, the note reads. As mentioned, the shortage would concern the airports of Reggio Calabria and Crotone but not that of Lamezia Terme.
Among the airports where attention is high there are also the airports of Naples and Salerno. In a note from Gesac we read that the protest of the hauliers is causing "difficulties in the supply of Jet A-1 fuel". Last October 20, at the request of Gesac, Enav issued a Notam (aeronautical notice) which reports a "limited availability of Jet A-1 fuel" and invites pilots to take on board a sufficient quantity of fuel at the airports of origin to reduce the need for refueling at the Campania airports.
As regards the vehicles used in the assistance activities for aircraft and passengers on the apron, Gesac recalls, in Naples almost the entire fleet is electric-powered, and therefore there is less dependence on diesel supplies.
Gesac also requested the intervention of the Prefecture "so that the transit of refueling vehicles is allowed and access to the fuel depots in Naples is guaranteed, currently hindered by the blockades of the protesters, as well as that any further measures necessary to avoid the interruption of the public service connected to airport operations are adopted".
Among airlines, the note from Wizz Air arrived: it confirmed that it is affected, like other airlines, by interruptions in fuel supplies to airports caused by protests and road blocks in Italy. Fuel shortages at some airports are leading to operational limitations that could impact flights to and from Italy, Wizz Air said in a statement. Then he "urged the competent Italian authorities to intervene urgently to restore the regularity of fuel supplies to airports and limit further inconvenience for passengers".
"Although these circumstances are beyond the control of the company, we are doing everything possible to minimize inconvenience, guarantee the continuity of the movements of our passengers and keep them constantly informed - reads the note from Wizz Air -. Our operational teams are in close coordination with airports and fuel suppliers, evaluating alternative solutions for refueling and adapting, where necessary and possible, flight operations, keeping safety as an absolute priority".
"We are aware of how frustrating changes to travel plans can be. We will communicate any changes directly to passengers and provide the necessary assistance", adds the company, inviting passengers to check the status of their flight.
