More fuel suppliers at Chopin Airport in Warsaw

Chopin Airport will probably have a second fuel supplier as early as next year, which is likely to result in lower fuel prices and expansion of Warsaw’s route network.

Formal obstacles will be removed at the beginning of May, after the expiry of the six months’ notice terminating the current agreement between the airport operator PPL and Petrolot. The latter, a company owned by PKN Orlen and LOT Polish Airlines, used to have a monopoly on the supply of fuel at the Warsaw airport. PPL, however, decided to terminate the agreement at the end of October.

One of the provisions of the agreement gave Petrolot exclusive access to the siding from which fuel can be transported in tank cars to a storage point near the airport. As of May, Petrolot will no longer enjoy this privilege, as other companies will gain access to the siding, thus facilitating competition in the supply of fuel at the airport.

“This is a crucial step towards further development of our airport. High fuel prices were one of the reasons why foreign airlines were unwilling to launch services to Warsaw, in particular in the case of long-haul flights. Now we have an opportunity to overcome this obstacle and add new destinations to our route network,” said Michał Marzec, Director of Chopin Airport.

Lotos Tank, the company that started supplying fuel to Gdańsk Airport last year, has said it is interested in doing business with Chopin Airport. The company wants to expand its presence in the aviation industry and plans to enter the Warsaw market next year, winning at least 20% of the pie.

This is not the only step taken by the airport operator to encourage the diversification of fuel suppliers. The airport is planning to establish a centralized fuel distribution system by the end of 2013. A network of pipes has already been placed under the aprons that will be used to deliver fuel directly to the aircraft parking stands in the near future. The airport still needs to build an installation for pumping the fuel from the tanks directly to the airport fuel storage facility.

“Once this project is completed, we expect that more companies will be able to provide fuel to the airport, and the tank truck traffic at the aprons will be much reduced. The prices will fall and safety will be increased,” Mr. Marzec said.
(Source:www.transportweekly.com)