Fuel crisis affects flights in Colombia and creates uncertainty for travelers.

The situation regarding fuel supply for airplanes in Colombia has generated considerable alarm among airlines and passengers, following the recent notification of "critical inventories" at multiple airports across the country. The country's largest airline, Avianca, stated in a press release that fuel distributors have reported restrictions on the delivery of Jet Fuel, which could lead to adjustments in schedules and flight cancellations. Although the exact number of affected flights has not been specified, the uncertainty is already causing concern among travelers. José María Córdova International Airport in Medellín was one of the first to experience the consequences of this crisis, announcing the cancellation of eight flights due to a lack of fuel. However, this information was quickly retracted, further fueling the confusion about the actual status of fuel supply in the country. The swift response from airport authorities and airlines indicates that the situation is dynamic and could change at any moment. Amid this crisis, President Gustavo Petro has tried to allay fears by asserting that "there is no fuel shortage" and that the supply at the national level remains at normal levels. However, his message has been met with skepticism, especially after the state-owned company Ecopetrol acknowledged issues in production due to a recent electrical failure at its refinery in Cartagena. This failure, which occurred between August 16 and 18, has been cited as the main cause of the current fuel availability deficit. Nevertheless, Ecopetrol's president, Ricardo Roa, has assured that there is a 95% availability of current demand for air operations, although this has not prevented airlines from already beginning to implement emergency measures. Latam, another major airline operating in Colombia, has also reported that several of its airports are facing serious supply issues. The situation is so critical that they have begun rationing fuel consumption, a measure that could lead to a reduction in the operational capacity of airlines and, therefore, a direct impact on passengers planning to travel in the short term. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed its concern over the supply shortage, indicating that the situation varies from one airport to another. IATA has urged airlines to "rationalize" their fuel consumption, which could involve transporting fewer passengers or suspending certain flights. This situation reflects a lack of coordination and planning that has put the aviation sector in Colombia at risk. Meanwhile, the government has promised to investigate the reasons behind the fuel shortage at some airports, but the opposition has criticized the current administration's management, suggesting that the crisis is due to the inexperience of Ecopetrol's executives. This political situation could further complicate the government's strategy to resolve the supply issue in the short term. In response to the crisis, airlines have begun to adjust their schedules and take emergency measures, such as temporarily halting the sale of certain flights. Avianca has acknowledged that it will have to rebook passengers whose flights are affected by the situation. Travelers have the option to request changes to their scheduled itinerary between August 25 and September 4, but it is unclear how many will actually be impacted. In conclusion, the alert over the critical fuel supply for airplanes in Colombia has triggered a series of reactions from both airlines and the government. While Avianca and Latam seek to adapt to a situation that could have significant repercussions for the aviation sector, President Petro insists that the supply is normal. However, time will tell whether these claims translate into tangible improvements in the short term, or whether, on the contrary, cancellations and uncertainty for travelers will intensify. The situation demands immediate attention and action to prevent a collapse of national air transport.