Fuel shortages cause delays at Sydney airport

Sydney Airport has been forced to introduce jet fuel rationing today after the body responsible for distributing fuel at the airport said it can only supply a third of the normal demand from airlines.

International passengers now face lengthy diversions so their planes can fill up at other airports.

Low production from Sydney oil refineries and a delayed fuel shipment for the rationing, have been blamed for the shortage, and delays are due to continue for at least the next two days.

Qantas said some international flights would be diverted to take on fuel at other airports. Due to the vast distances between Australian cities this is likely to add hours to plane trips.

Qantas said it does not expect any cancellations and domestic services will not be affected.

Virgin Blue - a domestic carrier - has said it will run normal services but says it will demand answers about how the fuel shortages occurred at an airport regarded as the gateway to Australia.

Sydney Airport is Australia's largest, handling about 24m passengers a year.