Impact at ATL due to Colonial Pipeline Shutdown
 

It is being reported that ATL may run into fuel shortage issues in a few days should the pipeline not become operational soon.

At a minimum, it would seem likely that in the coming days many DL flights originating from ATL may be making fuel stops en route. And as we all know, any disruption at ATL usually resonates throughout the Delta network.

Things could get interesting, in not a good way.

NBC Story

Very interesting article on potential impacts already for AA:
https://onemileatatime.com/airline-f...cked-pipeline/

CLTLHR to make a technical stop in BOS and CLTHNL to also make a technical stop in DFW as examples. This should add approximately one hour to each flight.

AA Dispatchers might decide to tanker in fuel from out stations to mitigate issues with scarcity in CLT. This ends up costing more but ensures that there is adequate fuel for flight dispatching.

Just saw this over on A.net. This could get interesting.

Posters over there said IAD and BWI could also be impacted. I’m flying out of DCA tomorrow, but only hoping up o Maine via JFK.

AA may have specific contracts in place to avoid price hikes on a short term basis (e.g., they may contract 30 days forward) but refined petroleum prices are already starting to spike in the Southeast. So tankering would actually save money where feasible. Fuel at $3/gallon versus $4/gallon allows a lot of extra weight to be carried. Of course, there are limits to which routes can actually allow tankering.

Today is the first day that we're seeing a big response on gasoline. Lots of localized shortages, although this seems to be more a result of panic buying than actual distillate shortages in the region (still plenty in storage - just shortages at gas stations) - although panic buying could lead to actual real shortages.

Per Colonial, the pipeline should restart operations Friday. If that happens, I think ATL will be okay. Anything that extends beyond Friday could put ATL at serious risk of fuel shortages. I'm assuming Delta is planning (and has already taken) some contingencies here in terms of tankering, fuel stops, and non-traditional delivery via truck.

I’m on the DL ATL-HNL non-stop flight right now and thankfully we aren’t making any fuel stops. We did leave the gate 20 mins late even with boarding beginning on-time so not sure if the fuel issues had anything to do with this or not.

Although they may restart operations, fuel moves very slowly through the pipeline. Although fuel may begin moving towards its destination, it may be 1-2 weeks before everywhere is fully supplied with fuel again.

There is also the Plantation pipeline which traverses roughly the same route, except it terminates in the DC area. It only carries 720K barrels a day versus the Colonial's 2500K barrels a day, but it's something.

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=47917

I am flying through ATL on Thursday, hopefully Delta is managing the situation.

Meanwhile all 3 of my cars are full or nearly so, but by happenstance and not sitting in line at gas stations. :)

David

While I don't know for sure, I'm assuming the pipeline has not been drained. There may be more mixing than usual of the contents due to the long sitting period but once it starts fuel of some type will start being available.

Will be hugely dependent on pressure... if the pipeline had to be depressurized and has been experiencing light flow, or if they were able to shut-down in the best way and keep everything sealed in. Lots of unique variables will have a massive impact on restart operations and ability to use product in the pipeline now.

I would bet if it becomes an issue, flights will be fueled at outstations for both flight to ATL and onward from ATL.

Uh-oh! This is not good! They had no more fuel! Wow! Hopefully in a few weeks they will get more fuels again. They should be resolved it soon.

US fuel pipeline hackers 'didn't mean to create problems'
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57050690

Well alrighty then I guess :p

A lot of these type organizations are simply out to "screw the company." They have no desire to hurt the everyday person. They're also smart enough to know piss off the masses and they'll quickly be put out of "business."

Yeah sure, just screw the company and try to extra cash with ransomware... except the 'higher value' targets that they can demand more payment are going to have wide social consequences.