Air Transport

US Airways is scrambling to sign a refueling contract for flights into London Heathrow airport as it prepares for its latest transatlantic service, which is to launch after the EU-US open skies agreement takes effect next month.

March 29 is the carrier's start date for flights between Philadelphia and Heathrow. The Star alliance member has not inked a deal with a refueling company and it may consider legal action against Heathrow owner BAA.

"We are working every possible angle to acquire fuel at Heathrow and have been ever since we announced our start-up last November. This situation continues despite the fact that the BAA and IATA have brokered a deal amongst all of the airlines to allocate fuel amongst themselves to ensure everyone, including the new entrants to the market, have adequate fuel," a spokesman says in an statement.

The carrier does not anticipate the fuel situation will postpone its launch date.

"We are hopeful that we will be able to conclude a deal prior to our start-up in March. We believe there is at least one supplier that will be willing to evaluate the facts and address the risks in a commercial manner," the spokesman says.

A BAA spokesman says while current demand does not exceed fuel supply at the airport, there is concern among some airlines that during peak summer season, demand will outpace supply.

The airport has a contingency plan, he says, in which airlines participate in voluntary fuel rationing.

He notes the plan, which IATA helped broker, was implemented following the December 2005 blast and blaze at Buncefield fuel depot, from which the London airports of Luton and Heathrow draw aviation fuel.