Purchasing Resources for Jet Fuel

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Jet Fuel

Anyone on the tarmac knows that when it comes to aviation fuel, there's some serious competition among fixed bases of operations (FBOs). As an FBO owner, it's your job to find a jet fuel supplier that can provide you with a product that others want at a price that keeps you in the running. Once you get those two things, you should be flying high.

When you're looking for a good jet-fuel distributor, there are a few things that you need to consider before picking one brand name. These could include:

1. Price for various different grades of jet fuel

2. Wholesale jet fuel cost

3. Each aviation fuel supplier's resources

Compare jet fuel prices to get the best deal

The price of fuel is one of the biggest factors to consider when choosing an aviation fuel vendor. Many of your customers will seek out the cheapest fuel on the runway, and if you can't get a good price from the supplier, then you've already lost customers.
Try: Get price quotes from several aviation fuel suppliers. Begin by getting prices from some of the biggest names in aviation fuel, such as Texaco. Then compare them to the going rate posted on the International Air Transport Association's website to see how they stack up. Always ask about wholesale discounts and find out exactly how much fuel qualifies you for such a discount. If you run a small FBO, you may never buy enough to get your jet fuel wholesale.

Check out the perks and equipment for jet fuel systems

Once you have a few price contenders, it's time to look further into what each fuel supplier has to offer. You need someone who can deliver fuel day or night so that you never run out, and can provide fuel trucks and equipment to get the job done. Having a leased fuel truck can save you thousands over having to buy new, so do your homework before committing.
Try: Read the fine print and see how each fuel supplier stacks up against the others. Avfuel, for instance, has an Avlease program that lets you lease your fuel trucks so that you don't have to worry about maintenance and upkeep. Chevron has innovative ways to take fuel samples and keep the quality of your fuel high, which can save you money in the long run and help you keep your customer base.

Pick an aviation fuel supplier that works for you

Another major thing to consider when comparing jet fuel distributors is each brand name's marketing tactics. You'll find that many companies and fleets have strong brand loyalty and will go out of their way to use the same type of fuel no matter where they land. Corporate credit cards are just one way that a fuel distributor can help you get a larger customer base, so it's important to look into this segment of the distributor's business plan.
Try: Check out each company's credit card program to find the best one for your needs. Air BP, for example, is one of the most well-known aviation fuel companies in the world, thanks to a good marketing campaign. Phillips 66 is another company that helps match up its customers with your FBO when they're in town.

When choosing which aircraft/jet fuel to provide, pay attention to what's already on the runway. If there are already three Air BP vendors, you may be better off going with someone else to pull in a different client base.

More Jet Fuel Vendors

Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Jet Fuel

If you use a jet in your business, you are already aware of the rising prices of jet fuel and how these prices affect your ability to travel by air. These cost increases may not end any time soon, either. After all, the price of aircraft fuel rose nearly 50% from 2009 to 2010. And, as of May of 2011 (when data was last examined) fuel costs had risen another 30%. Because of the extremely high fuel prices, many jet owners are being forced to leave their aircraft in the hangar far more often than they would like.

Fortunately, biofuels research is being put on the fast track. This is because the rising fuel prices affect not only private aircraft owners, but also the airlines. Tests ... more