Qantas long distance flights from Australia to North America are having to stop in Fiji to take on fuel.
This is because a large quantity of fuel at Sydney Airport has been found to be below standard and does not meet the criteria laid down for jet flight.
A spokesman for the companies supplying fuel at Sydney, Peter Scott, says fuel is being rationed to 40 per cent of normal demand because a significant quantity was found to be unusable.
Trans-Pacific Qantas jets have been stopping at Nadi to take on their full quantity of fuel before flying on to North America, causing delays in arrival times.
