The busy Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is confronting a potential jet fuel supply crisis that could disrupt one of the year's peak travel periods. This emergency stems from the forced shutdown of a major fuel pipeline following a significant spill.
Emergency Declaration and Immediate Impacts
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a state of emergency, citing the risk of a "significant disruption to fuel supply for transportation, emergency response, and aviation operations." The emergency proclamation, issued this week, waives restrictions on commercial driver hours to facilitate the transportation of jet fuel by truck.
The crucial conduit, BP Plc's Olympic Pipeline, was shut down on November 11 after a leak was discovered in Snohomish County. According to officials, Sea-Tac airport "relies directly" on this pipeline for its fuel deliveries. So far, airport operations have not been affected, confirmed Perry Cooper, a spokesperson for the airport.
Airlines Scramble with Contingency Plans
Major carriers are taking proactive measures to mitigate the impact. Alaska Air Group Inc. is actively working on a contingency plan that includes expanding its trucking operations to bring in more supply. The airline is also employing other strategies, such as "tankering" fuel into Seattle on inbound flights and evaluating "tech stop options along certain routes to conserve fuel."
Similarly, Delta Air Lines Inc., which uses Sea-Tac as a hub, is taking steps to lessen potential impacts. A Delta spokesperson confirmed the company is "closely monitoring" the fuel supply and is also transporting extra fuel via tanker trucks. The airline reported no operational impacts at this time.
Thanksgiving Travel Period at Risk
The timing of this incident is critical. The Federal Aviation Administration has forecast that the upcoming period will be the busiest Thanksgiving travel in 15 years. If the pipeline remains shut down into next week, the airport could face a severe fuel crunch precisely when passenger volume is at its highest.
BP has stated that there is no current timeline for restarting the pipeline. In an emailed statement, the company said, "Olympic Pipeline is actively responding to a release of refined products east of Everett, Washington... Response crews have begun 24-hour excavation operations and are proceeding with excavation of the pipelines to allow for visual inspection."
This is not the first incident for this pipeline system, which transports refined products from Whatcom County, Washington, to Portland, Oregon. In 2023, more than 21,000 gallons of gasoline spilled from the same infrastructure, according to the Washington Department of Ecology.
