Air fuel shortage at Bamako airport?
Several airlines may experience disruptions these days at Bamako's Modibo Keita International Airport due to a fuel shortage. At least that is what Air Côte d'Ivoire is already planning.
In a press release published on Sunday 7 August 2022, the Ivorian national flag indicates that it is suffering "the hazards of a fuel shortage" on the main airport platform of Mali. A damaging situation that should last at least a week until August 15, it warns. Because of this situation, the company says it will be forced "either to reduce the capacity of available seats to/from this destination or to consider a technical stopover for refuelling".
In any case, Air Côte d'Ivoire says it is doing everything possible to maintain its Bamako route. A few weeks ago, it resumed its service following the lifting of the embargo - of nearly 8 months - by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against Mali on 24 June.
Bamako is served by the local carrier Sky Mali, but also Ethiopian Airlines, ASKY, Mauritania Airlines, Air France, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Senegal, Royal Air Maroc, Corsair and Tunisair.
Mali, like many countries around the world, is being hit hard by the combined effect of the scarcity of petroleum products and the resulting price hike due to the war in Ukraine. The impact is further exacerbated by the fact that the country is totally landlocked and has no access to the sea, which increases the cost of transport and handling. The country is partly supplied by the Société de gestion des stocks pétroliers de Côte d'Ivoire (GESTOCI). Bamako projects its hydrocarbon revenue losses at around 215 billion CFA francs by 31 December 2022.
