The Federal Aviation Administration is warning pilots that Orlando International Airport (MCO) is running low on fuel, and that could mean hiccups in the days ahead for travelers.
In an official notice, the agency said that the airport could continue having supply issues through about 7 p.m. Tuesday, and suggests that airlines should be prepared to operate flights into the airport with enough fuel on board to fly back out.
Some carriers are already making adjustments to their operations as a result, and at least one has issued a waiver for travelers heading to or from Orlando.
Here’s what passengers need to know.
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Airlines making adjustments
In a statement posted to Twitter Sunday morning, Orlando International Airport said the supply issue was the result of weather along the Gulf Coast that prevented ships from transporting fuel for delivery.
Airlines have already begun to respond. United Airlines said in a statement that some of its flights will be adding extra stops for refueling.
“Because of a shortage of fuel in Orlando that is impacting multiple airlines, we will add planned fuel stops on Sunday and Monday for some flights from Orlando. At this time we expect to operate our full schedule to get our customers to their destinations as planned,” a spokesperson for the airline said.
Southwest Airlines told USA TODAY it is not expecting any operational impacts to its flights.
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British Airways appears to have added a refueling stop in Miami for its service between Orlando and London Gatwick on Sunday night, according to its website.
If you’re planning to fly to or from Orlando in the next few days, it’s a good idea to check with your airline about the status of your flight and keep your eyes open for any alerts about changes to the schedule.
Delta Air Lines issues a waiver
Delta Air Lines has not published any flight changes, but it is offering passengers traveling to or from MCO the option of rescheduling their flights for later in the week.
Travelers booked on Delta at MCO on Monday or Tuesday can move their flight to Friday or sooner without paying a change fee or fare difference.
