No Major Disruptions at Seattle-Tacoma Airport
Multiple airlines reported smooth operations on Saturday even though Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has not received fuel from the Olympic Pipeline for nearly a week. The pipeline was shut down due to a leak east of Everett, raising concerns from Governor **Bob Ferguson** and Senator **Maria Cantwell** that travel disruptions could unfold over the weekend.
According to FlightAware, SEA logged only ten cancellations throughout Saturday, none of them tied to fuel shortages. Alaska, Delta, and American Airlines confirmed they experienced zero operational impacts.
Airlines Activate Contingency Fuel Strategies
Alaska Airlines said it expects no disruption through Thanksgiving week and outlined a series of contingency measures. These include tankering fuel into Seattle on inbound flights, evaluating potential technical stops to conserve fuel, and expanding trucking operations to boost local supply.
Delta shared a similar plan, emphasizing efforts to prevent customer impacts by transporting supplemental fuel via tanker trucks. American Airlines also said it has seen no operational issues and is continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Pipeline Repair Work Expands but Leak Still Undetected
British Petroleum, operator of the Olympic Pipeline, said crews have now excavated nearly **200 feet** of pipeline but have not yet located the leak’s source. This marks a significant increase from the “over 100 feet” excavated as of Friday evening. BP stated there is still no timeline for restoring service on either of the two affected pipelines.
The Washington Department of Ecology, on-site since Nov. 11, said no wildlife or Snohomish River impacts have been reported. Clean-up teams are using vacuum trucks and absorbent materials to contain contaminated soil, and BP maintains that no product has spread beyond the designated response area.
Pressure Mounts as Officials Demand Answers
Senator **Maria Cantwell** issued a pointed letter to BP demanding detailed information about transparency, accountability, and the status of the leak by Nov. 24. With the holiday travel season approaching, state officials continue to warn that prolonged pipeline downtime could increase strain on airport fuel reserves.
For now, airlines say operations remain stable. Whether that continues will depend on how quickly BP can isolate the source of the leak and restore the region’s primary fuel supply line.
