Orlando Airport Cautions That Jet Fuel Shortage May Cause Delays

If you’ve flown anywhere over the past year or so, you’ll understand that the airline industry has been facing some unprecedented challenges.

Flying could get a little more stressful today

Some airlines have cut back on their flight schedules. Cancellations and delays seem to happen more often. Not to mention, weather is still a factor that affects flights. Orlando International Airport has warned passengers flying into and out of that airport that weather could cause delays today — but not in the way you think.

Here’s what’s happening: recent severe weather happening along the Gulf Coast has affected jet fuel shipments to the Orlando International Airport, causing a fuel shortage. This could result in delayed flights.

Ops Update: Weather issues along the Gulf Coast had prevented reserve supply delivery of jet fuel at MCO. The weather has lifted and ships have departed. If flight disruptions occur, airline contingency plans are currently in place. Thank you for your patience.

— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) December 11, 2022

According to USA Today, a spokesperson for Orlando International Airport said, “Because of a shortage of fuel in Orlando that is impacting multiple airlines, we will add planned fuel stops on Sunday and Monday for some flights from Orlando. At this time we expect to operate our full schedule to get our customers to their destinations as planned.”

©Orlando International Airport

Delta Airlines has also posted a statement on its website offering passengers the option to reschedule flights into or out of Orlando for later in the week without having to a change fee or fare difference.

©Delta

Southwest Airlines have stated that their flights should not be affected. Other airlines have added stops in other cities to refuel their planes.

The good news is that the weather has improved and ships with jet fuel are on their way. However, they are running late, so passengers flying into or out of Orlando should bring some patience with them to the airport. According to a statement given to USA Today, the airport might be facing delays up through 7PM on Tuesday.

Orlando International Airport

If you’ve got kiddos in your traveling party, be sure to have snacks and entertainment on hand. Download your favorite shows from your favorite streaming services and prepare to wait. You’ll also want to keep an eye on your airline’s website and/or app to stay updated on flight status — if there’s an option to sign up for text alerts, that’s always a good idea, too!

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Are you flying into or out of Orlando International Airport today? Let us know in the comments!