ASIM, May 20
A strong discussion on today’s hashtag#IATAIGHC panel on Jet A / Jet A-1 and fuel flexibility. Could greater use of Jet A, which is produced at scale outside the Gulf, help ease pressure on existing supply chains?
Javier Agueda Encinas, Etihad, IFQP Chair and Antony Baker, IATA reinforced that while both Jet A and Jet A-1 are approved hashtag#aviation fuels, introducing Jet A at an airport that currently uses Jet A-1 is not as simple as it may sound.
For hashtag#groundhandlers, there are very practical operational issues:
1️⃣ Into-plane procedures: Fueling teams need clear instructions on when Jet A can be uplifted, how it should be recorded, and what checks are required before fueling.
2️⃣ Fuel quality control: Sampling, testing, documentation and release procedures may need to reflect the fuel specification being handled.
3️⃣ Equipment and infrastructure readiness: Fuel trucks, hydrant systems, storage tanks and fuel farms may need checks or adjustments before a different fuel specification can be introduced.
4️⃣ Communication with crews and dispatch: Ground teams need clear, consistent information so the correct fuel is delivered, confirmed and recorded.
5️⃣ Training and documentation: Any change in fuel specification needs to be reflected in local procedures, staff briefings, manuals and handover processes.
6️⃣ Airport-wide coordination: handlers cannot manage this alone. Airlines, airport operators, fuel suppliers, pipeline operators and regulators all need to be aligned.
The IATA and EU guidance helps outline what needs to happen, but improving resilience in aviation is rarely about a quick fix. It requires balancing safety, interoperability, practicality and long-term supply resilience across a highly connected global system.
