The first time I experienced this phenomenon, it was the noise that got me. It was a loud whooshing sound that felt vaguely apocalyptic—if the apocalypse was happening in a car wash. I fly out of Denver, so this is a regular occurrence for me, but that first time felt otherworldly, almost claustrophobic, especially since I was watching workers outside the plane do things I’d never seen them do before. But for many passengers, it’s the smell that hits them first.
This isn’t an aviation fuel shortage. It’s a refining capacity crisis.
When people hear about jet fuel shortages, they often assume the problem is a lack of crude oil, geopolitical disruptions, or transportation bottlenecks. While these factors can contribute, they are...
