Enlarge image
Pilots in front of an American Airlines plane in Fort Worth, Texas (archive image)
Photo: Mike Stone / REUTERS
American Airlines has urged its pilots to save as much fuel as possible.
"Every gallon is helpful," said manager John Dudley.
Kerosene is currently scarce in the USA - in addition, there are also no tank trucks and drivers.
He reckons with supply problems until mid-August.
One gallon equals 3.785 liters.
A spokesman for the industry association Airlines for America said that fuel stocks were particularly scarce at certain airports, especially the smallest airports in the western United States.
In the US state of Nevada, Governor Steve Sisolak had already warned of fuel shortages on Saturday.
They could cause delays on passenger and cargo flights from Reno-Tahoe Airport.
The airline Delta announced that the reason for the shortage was the low capacity in the pipelines.
In the high phase of the corona pandemic, less kerosene was required and accordingly less was passed through - instead, more gasoline and diesel.
Dennis Tajer, spokesman for the pilots' union at American Airlines, told the AFP news agency that some of the planes now have to fill up with more kerosene than before - in order not to end up in a small airport with no supplies.
The higher weight may have to be offset by fewer passengers.
Pilots can save fuel, for example, by ascending continuously instead of in steps after take-off, or by switching off an engine when coasting down after landing.
In general, it saves kerosene if, for example, holding patterns before landing are avoided.
dab / AFP