Definition

Tankering is a practice in which an aircraft carries more fuel than required for its safe flight in order to reduce or avoid refuelling at the destination airport for subsequent flight(s).

There are two types of fuel tankering:

• Full (fuel) tankering, when all the fuel needed for the return/onward flight is uplifted at the departure airport to avoid refuelling at the destination airport.
• Partial (fuel) tankering, when only part of the fuel needed for the return/onward flight is uplifted at the departure airport, followed by partial refuelling at the destination airport.

Operational Tankering

Tankering is an option when it is not possible or desirable to refuel at the destination airport, due to circumstances such as: