King Shaka's fuel folly

Officials at King Shaka International airport in Durban, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, were yesterday still investigating what caused a fuel supply system to malfunction, resulting in numerous flight delays.

Airports Company South Africa instructed all airlines using the Durban airport to refuel at their points of departure.

A fuel truck was brought in for those planes that needed to be refuelled at the airport.

The fuel truck process, said Acsa spokesman Colin Naidoo, was a longer one.

The fuel supply system broke down early yesterday morning causing several flights to be delayed.

Susan van der Ryst, a spokeswoman for Comair and Kulula, said that three of their aircraft were affected.

"They were late and this had a roll-on effect for the rest of the day," she said, adding that 341 passengers were on board the three planes that were destined for Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Budget airline Mango said that 20% of its morning flights were affected by the malfunction.

Mango spokesman Hein Kaiser said this caused delays of 90 minutes on average, but that all Mango flights were back on schedule by midday.

Van der Ryst said that the need for planes to carry extra fuel was increasing operational costs, as it made the aircraft heavier and less economical to fly.

King Shaka International had also been without water for two days. Passengers and airport staff had to be issued with bottled drinking water. Fire trucks were used to replenish water for restaurants, businesses and toilets. By yesterday afternoon, water was restored.