Air Travel Crisis: SAA Pilots Allege Refuelling Problems

By Arit Mbeh

Midwest Herald reports that South African Airways (SAA) has allegedly been required to tanker jet fuel into Durban after the airline was reportedly unable to obtain refuelling services at King Shaka International Airport, prompting fresh questions about its operations.

According to The Citizen, sources within SAA claimed flight crews had been instructed to ensure Johannesburg- and Cape Town-bound flights carried enough fuel to return from Durban, as aircraft were allegedly unable to refuel at the airport.

The Citizen further reported that pilots who attempted to uplift fuel in Durban were informed that no jet fuel was available to SAA, despite other airlines reportedly continuing to refuel without interruption. Information available to Midwest Herald noted that King Shaka International Airport has a single aviation fuel supplier.

One SAA pilot, quoted, said the situation could present operational challenges if an aircraft had to divert unexpectedly to Durban without sufficient fuel to continue its journey. “When something happens and there’s not enough fuel on board to leave Durban again after diverting, what exactly are we going to be able to do?” the pilot told the newspaper.

It explained that tankering—the practice of carrying additional fuel from the departure airport instead of purchasing it at the destination—is a recognised practice in commercial aviation. But industry sources cited suggested the reported situation at SAA could be linked to commercial or contractual issues.

SAA has however denied the allegations. as the spokesperson Mphilo Dlamini rejected the suggestion that the airline was experiencing fuel supply problems.

“Your enquiry seems to propagate an incorrect assumption and narrative that SAA has a fuel supply issue, which is completely untrue,” Dlamini said.

He added that SAA does not discuss internal operational matters through the media and maintained that flights were continuing as scheduled while complying with all applicable safety and regulatory requirements.

According to The Citizen, the airline did not respond to a question about whether it had been required to purchase fuel on a pay-as-you-go basis.

A source said the allegations come amid heightened scrutiny of SAA following recent leadership changes. It previously reported the resignation of former chief executive Professor John Lamola, several board members and former chief financial officer Lindsay Olitzki. At the time, staff described the airline as facing significant challenges, while governance and aviation experts raised concerns about financial reporting, succession planning and overall stability.

More recently, it was reported on an SAA Airbus A330 that diverted to Gqeberha during severe weather while reportedly approaching minimum fuel reserves before landing safely.

Our source noted that, although South Africa continues to rank among the world’s safest aviation jurisdictions, several operational incidents involving both SAA and the country’s aviation regulator have attracted public attention in recent years.

These include the 2021 Brussels alpha floor event, an engine surge on an Accra-to-Johannesburg flight in 2022, and questions surrounding the reporting and investigation of significant aviation occurrences.

Unlike those earlier events, the latest allegations relate to the airline’s reported ability to obtain fuel at one of South Africa’s busiest airports rather than to an in-flight technical issue.

According to the publication, aviation experts said that if the allegations were confirmed, they could have implications beyond routine commercial operations, particularly where aircraft are required to make unscheduled diversions or carry additional fuel because of adverse weather or other operational disruptions.