Bahamas News

Confusion over which Oil Company was responsible for the fuel supply to aircraft was part of the problem that led to chaos at Nassau International Airport over the Christmas holidays, The Tribune has learned.

Many problems, including radar failure, and, according to informed sources, a sever fuel shortage, left more than 2,000 travelers stranded.

It was claimed that over the Christmas holidays, one of the busiest times of the year for NIA, airline officials were left scrambling to purchase fuel wherever they could find it.

Alan Sweeting, interim president of the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) and general manager of Jet Blue Airways, said yesterday that airline officials are scheduled to meet with Texaco and Shell representatives on Wednesday next week to discuss the incident, which together with the radar failure has been described as having a disastrous effect on tourism.

We hope to clear up some questions at that meeting. There are many confusing rumors floating around and we have not yet had any official word from airport management as to what the problem was, he said.

Despite the absences of an official report about the breakdown at the airport, Mr Sweeting said he does not believe that a fuel shortage was the cause of the problem.

I think what happened is that there was some confusion as to which company, Texaco and Shell who normally supply the airport with fuel – should have supplied it at that time, he explained.

Earlier this week Permanent Secretary in ministry of Transport and Aviation told The Tribune that he had not heard of any fuel shortage at the airport over the holidays.

The AOC said that the fall-out at NIA this past week had a domino effect on all arriving and departing flights and may have adversely affect eight to ten thousand people.

Karin Herig
Tribune Staff Reporter