Fuel: Due to current airport overcrowding in the Philippines some airlines are being diverted to airports where they don’t have fuel agreements in place. Air Partner, which provides refuelling facilities in over 3,000 locations worldwide, has been leveraging its relationships and in-house expertise to provide clients with fuel uplifts in Manila. Additionally, Air Partner staff based on the ground at Mactan Cebu International Airport, report that while there are no fuelling issues at Cebu, aircraft are only being provided with enough fuel to get out of Cebu to a destination where they can fuel up fully.  Most recently a Boeing 747 freighter aircraftwas due to land at Cebu (CEB), but due to overcrowding on the ground was diverted. The aircraft had no fuelling agreement setup at Manila, and turned to Air Partner to arrange a 25 tonne fuel uplift. Paul Walker, from Air Partner’s Fuel division, said, “Fuel supplies in Manila are severely depleted at the moment, and an emergency shutdown of a local refinery has not helped this situation. However, due to the network of relationships that we have developed within Air Partner’s Fuel division, along with extensive in-house expertise, we have been able to assist this client, and organise the aircraft’s refuelling. We will continue to monitor the situation in Manila closely.”  Air Partner’s Fuel division has strategic relationships with all major fuel suppliers and fuel resellers, which enables the Group to provide refuelling facilities in over 3,000 locations worldwide. A continually updated database of fuel prices, charges, taxes, fuel locations and government restrictions means that Air Partner is able to deliver a truly competitive service.
Further Aid Supplies: Air Partner has also confirmed an Antonov AN-124 flew from Europe to Cebu yesterday (Sunday) to transport 85 tonnes of ground handling equipment to assist the situation on the ground.  This includes airport handling equipment such as pallets, tugs, main deck loader, forklift and Hilux vehicles.  Air Partner has already arranged four Boeing 777 flights and 2 Boeing 747 flights, carrying 600 tonnes of aid, including Land Cruisers, tents, shelter kits and tarpaulins to assist with the aid effort on the ground. Richard Smith, Air Partner’s Product Director for Freight, said, “We are continuing to work around the clock to get aid supplies to Cebu as quickly and efficiently as possible.  Our team on the ground report that aid is now being unloaded straight onto the airport apron, as it awaits onward distribution.  The ground handling equipment we sent yesterday is expected to further assist the handling of aid at Cebu work.” Air Partner’s freight team is currently dealing with ongoing enquiries for transporting emergency aid to the Philippines. Air Partner has significant aid and crisis experience: In 2011, Air Partner worked around the clock to organise humanitarian aid flights carrying over 300 tonnes of aid and evacuating more than 12,000 people in just six weeks from across Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, New Zealand and Japan, when far-reaching and unprecedented political upheaval and devastating natural disasters coincided.