Airlines Halt Flights to Mali Due to Jet Fuel Shortage

Airlines serving Bamako Modibo Keita International Airport (BKO) in Mali have been forced to cancel or divert flights over the past two days due to a shortage of jet fuel at the airport. This disruption is expected to continue until at least July 15, 2024.

Jet fuel shortages at Bamako Airport have led international carriers like Royal Air Maroc, Air Senegal, and Turkish Airlines to cancel their flights to Bamako between July 8th and 11th. Local carrier Sky Mali also canceled several domestic flights. Authorities issued a notice warning of the fuel shortage and advised airlines to refuel at airports in neighboring countries.

A letter dated July 8, 2024, from the Director General of the National Civil Aviation Agency of Mali (ANAC) requested a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to alert operators of the unavailability of Jet A1 fuel at the airport from July 9 to July 15. Ould Mamouni, a Ministry of Transport spokesperson, explained that high flight operations have depleted the fuel stock, necessitating that airlines consider refueling elsewhere before arriving in Mali.

Sky Mali announced the cancellation of at least four flights on July 10 due to the shortage. The airline apologized for the inconvenience and assured customers that efforts were underway to resume flights as soon as possible.

Flight disruptions began shortly after the ANAC communication, with many flights being canceled, diverted, or delayed. For instance, a Tunisair Airbus A320 from Abidjan was diverted to Tunis Carthage Airport instead of landing in Bamako. Turkish Airlines has not operated flights to Bamako since July 8th, leaving the status of their future operations uncertain.

Some airlines have had to adapt by altering their carrying capacity or adding technical stops before reaching Bamako. Bamako Airport typically handles over 100 flights per week from around 13 scheduled passenger airlines. ASKY Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc are among the top international carriers serving Bamako. However, the ongoing fuel shortage has significantly disrupted these services.

Air France, which previously operated daily flights to Bamako from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, suspended its services in August 2023 due to security concerns following the coup in Niger. Despite attempts to resume flights, Malian authorities have not approved their return.