Heathrow asks airlines to carry excess fuel despite carbon impact
Airlines flying to Heathrow have been told to carry as much fuel as possible in their tanks because of supply problems at the airport, between Sunday 23 July to Monday 31 July. Also to take off without too much fuel, loaded from Heathrow. For planes to fly to Heathrow with more fuel than necessary means they are heavier, and therefore burn more jet fuel. That increases CO2 emissions. Fuel tankering, ie. buying more fuel than needed at an airport where it is cheaper, should be discouraged due to the higher CO2 footprint. The airport declined to comment on the cause of the supply issue. It does not have day-to-day control over fuel supply, which is handled instead by Heathrow Hydrant Operating Company and Heathrow Airport Fuel Company, which are both owned by consortiums of oil companies. So large is the demand for fuel for Heathrow that it requires a constant supply transported via pipeline from ExxonMobil’s Fawley refinery near Southampton. ExxonMobil is also building a replacement pipeline to the airport. .Tweet Heathrow asks airlines to carry excess fuel despite carbon impact Airport cites supply issues, but says there has been no impact on passengers or flights By Jasper Jolly @jjpjolly (The Guardian) 25th July 2023 Airlines flying to Heathrow have been told to carry as much fuel as possible in their tanks because of supply problems at Britain’s largest airport, in a controversial practice that can increase carbon emissions. The airport asked airlines to carry excess fuel on the way to London and to avoid c
