Fallout from last week’s fuel fire at Miami International Airport continued to cause headaches Saturday for airport officials, airline staff and thousands of travelers trying to get in and out of one of the nation’s busiest airports.
MIA officials were working late Saturday to put into place two temporary pumps to speed up the refueling process and were expected to get four additional pumps by Monday, said MIA spokesman Greg Chin.
With the airport still having to use tanker trucks to fill aircrafts, 143 flights were canceled and 28 were delayed as of roughly 6 p.m. The delays and cancellations are significant because more than 800 flights depart and arrive into MIA on Saturdays, according to Chin.
“Once we get the temporary system working, it will go a lot faster,’’ he said.
Wednesday’s massive fire at the airport’s fuel farm has left the fuel pump operation completely unusable. Airport staff worked late into the night Friday to get a temporary pumping system working, but there was a glitch, Chin said.
The temporary system would help get fuel to the aircrafts much faster than using tanker trucks. Using the trucks means it takes 50 percent more time to fill aircrafts, Chin said.
By Monday, the airport is expecting to expand the temporary system with four additional pumps, bringing to six the number of temporary pumps available to refuel aircraft.
The temporary pumps are being used as a stop-gap measure until a new fueling system can be installed.
MIA officials initially thought the installation process could take two to three months, but now suggest could take longer.
“It’s too early to tell,” Chin said. “It’s going to take a number of months.”
Meanwhile, the investigation into what cause the fire continued.
MIA’s fuel farm holds eight million gallons of fuel, feeding 14 underground pumps that send 2,000 gallons of fuel each hour to trucks near terminals to refuel airplanes.
The system is supplied by Everglades Pipeline, which runs in a 35-mile arc west from Port Everglades through Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach, Cooper City, Pembroke Pines, Miramar and Hialeah before reaching the airport. It transmits about 55,000 barrels of jet fuel each day. Officials said the Everglades Pipeline showed no damage from the fire.
Since Thursday, American Airlines – which handles the most traffic at the airport – has been forced to cancel more than 400 flights in order to avoid major delays.
On Friday, 192 flights were canceled and on Saturday 179 flights were canceled
The cancelations come at a busy time for Miami with more than 20 events this weekend including Ultra Music Festival, a sold-out event in downtown Miami that draws electronic music fans and DJs from around the world.
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
