Chennai: "Flight 432, we are tankering Bangalore-Chennai sector" flashed a message when Captain Ashok* opened the flight plan. The cryptic message means the aircraft will carry more fuel to avoid refueling at Chennai airport. This has become typical for most pilots after the price of aviation turbine fuel shot up at the city airport.
A couple of years ago, airlines used to tank up at Chennai airport. Not any more, as aviation turbine fuel, also known as jet fuel, in Chennai is more expensive than Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. In a bid to offset the impact on cost, airlines have started avoiding refueling in Chennai as much as possible. The process known as fuel tankering in aviation parlance has increased among airlines after prices went up since February 1. Every airline has a team of analysts who study the schedule of an aircraft, routes, sale of tickets, quantity of cargo, landing and take off conditions at airports, fuel prices and other factors to decide from which airport an aircraft should lift fuel. The feedback of these people who work closely with the operations department will be included in the flight plan.
28/02/13 V Ayyappan/Times of India
