Jet Fuel Shortage: What It Means for Your Flight Plans

In late June 2022, SriLankan Airlines and other carriers faced an unprecedented fuel shortage at Bandaranaike International Airport. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation could supply only about 250,000 litres of fuel per day—well below the roughly 700,000 litres SriLankan Airlines normally requires. This wasn't a temporary hiccup; it was a sign of Sri Lanka's broader foreign-exchange crisis.

Airlines responded by carrying extra fuel from overseas to complete return trips, or by adding technical refuelling stops on certain routes. SriLankan warned of possible flight cancellations as its fuel reserves depleted. If you were booked to leave Colombo during this period, your flight might have been delayed, rerouted, or cancelled.

What this means for travellers

Economic crises affect travel. If you're planning to fly out of Colombo during uncertain times, book with airlines that have international fuel supply chains (like Emirates or Qatar), or allow extra buffer time for rebooking if issues arise. Check your airline's communications closely. Travel insurance becomes even more valuable when infrastructure is under stress.