Major US airports could be running out of jet fuel as early as next week.
Major airports in the east and southeast could be the first affected, wrote USA Today.
“Shortages appear most severe at airports in Charlotte, Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers, Florida, but two of the US’s busiest airports could also be affected — Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson and Washington Dulles,” said the newspaper.
Hurricane Katrina knocked out refineries that produce about 13% of the jet fuel consumed in the US.
The hurricane also wrecked several Mississippi and Alabama pumping stations in the Gulf Coast area.
The larger airlines are trying to head off the upcoming shortages in various ways such as redistributing fuel supplies.
Officials also say the problem may be mitigated if the pumping stations can be restored to normal operation in the near future.
Report by David Wilkening
