Pipeline Leak Cuts Fuel to Sea-Tac, Portland

Airlines launch contingency plans for the West Coast airports.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, November 24, 2025 at 04:17 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Alaska Airlines jets at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. [Credit: Flickr]

Key Takeaways:

A leak in BP's Olympic Pipeline has caused its shutdown, disrupting jet fuel supply to major West Coast airports including Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) and Portland (PDX).
Washington Governor declared an emergency, waiving commercial vehicle driving hour limits to expedite jet fuel transport to SEA and prevent travel disruptions.
Airlines have activated contingency plans, such as tankering fuel on inbound flights and increasing deliveries by truck, to maintain scheduled services.
Despite the pipeline issue, airports like SEA and PDX report no significant operational impacts so far, with airlines effectively managing fuel supply, and Portland having the additional option to barge fuel.

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The ability to pivot is essential in the aviation industry, especially if you are operating an airline or an airport. This can mean finding alternative ways to get jet fuel to the fleet if the normal means are shut down temporarily.

Last week airports and airlines on the West Coast learned of a leak in the Olympic Pipeline, which is operated by BP Pipelines North America. The pipeline is a 400-mile system that runs from Whatcom County, Washington, down to Portland, Oregon, and is used to transport refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.