In March 2019, Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) faced a jet fuel shortage as stocks neared depletion, forcing airlines to seek alternative refueling points. The crisis, attributed to under-ordered fuel supplies by oil marketers, disrupted operations for carriers relying on Nairobi's main hub.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority director-general Gilbert Kibe confirmed a fresh fuel delivery had arrived in Mombasa and was being transported to Nairobi, with normal operations expected to resume by March 10. "We have issued notice to airlines and they are aware of the current shortage," he stated.
Egypt Air Flight MS850 made an unscheduled stop at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda for refueling, causing a three-hour delay. Nairobi-based cargo airline Astral Aviation sourced fuel from Juba, Mogadishu, and Djibouti, with European-bound flights planning to refuel at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania.
Astral Aviation commercial manager Mustwafa Murad highlighted the financial impact of regional fuel prices, which exceeded Nairobi rates by $0.12 at Entebbe, $0.38 in Mogadishu, $0.14 in Kilimanjaro, and $0.30 in Juba. Kenya Airways chairman Michael Joseph noted the national carrier had not yet experienced the shortage but anticipated sufficient reserves until March 10.
The crisis coincided with a strike by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu) that disrupted airport operations on Wednesday, temporarily reducing fuel demand. However, resumed operations on Thursday accelerated consumption, exacerbating the shortfall. Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) reported only 10 million liters of jet fuel in storage, far below the daily 2.5 million-liter consumption rate.
A vessel carrying 115 million liters of jet fuel arrived at Mombasa's port on Tuesday, with discharging commencing at 5 p.m. KPC officials confirmed the fuel was being transferred to Nairobi, with availability for loading expected by March 10 at 10 a.m., according to Aviation Service Management.
