By Natalia Rueda 
The fuel crisis in Colombia has raised an array of questions and incited a slew of controversies. With accusations flying toward airlines like Avianca and latam, logistics companies such as Terpel, and state-owned oil company, Ecopetrol, the heart of the issue seems to be a lack of transparency.
What happened?
Colombia’s aviation industry has been rocked by an alleged crisis as fuel shortages threatened to suspend flights and leave travelers stranded. All this chaos began on August 16, when an electrical failure at the Cartagena refinery caused a temporary interruption in jet fuel production, raising concerns about its availability to domestic airlines.
A shortage of jet fuel has brought the country’s aviation industry to a complete standstill, with both Avianca and LATAM forced to cancel dozens of flights. This provoked negative reaction from travelers who did not know if their flights would depart as scheduled or if they would be one of the unlucky ones to face cancellation. The fuel shortage narrative has been a source of heated debate, as conflicting information and unreliable communication from airlines has further fueled the chaos.
President Gustavo Petro stated through his X account that there is no shortage of fuel for airplanes “What exists is an irregular activity that is already under investigation”.
However, on August 27, both LATAM and Avianca confirmed that their operations would continue as normal, starting on Wednesday, and Colombia’s largest oil company announced that it had imported 100,000 barrels of jet fuel to ensure a steady supply to domestic airlines. Despite the assurances, the controversy continues, and LATAM was forced to cancel 36 flights in an attempt to “optimize inventories.” The cancellations have added fuel to the fire of the ongoing debate. As discussions intensify, only time will reveal the end of this aviation saga.
While discussions and investigations into the alleged fuel shortage continue, only time will tell the true extent of the impact on the Colombian aviation industry. Meanwhile, travelers are relieved that airlines have resumed operations, but questions remain about the root cause of the crisis.