Lufthansa jets told to carry extra fuel into Frankfurt as supplies tighten, Bild reports

BERLIN, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Lufthansa LHAG.DE is asking pilots flying to Frankfurt to load extra jet fuel at other airports as supplies tighten at Germany's largest air hub, Bild reported on Thursday, citing internal instructions it said were sent to Lufthansa pilots.

The report linked the move to months of low water on the Rhine that have hampered barge deliveries and to reduced capacity on a pipeline supplying the airport during scheduled maintenance.

• Bild said Lufthansa had instructed crews on selected routes to practise "tankering", taking more fuel than needed so jets require less or no refuelling in Frankfurt

• Extra fuel is capped at 8 tons on Airbus A320-family aircraft so they can still be towed on the ground, and the rules mainly affect short-haul flights but increasingly some long-haul services, according to Bild

• Lufthansa told Bild it had taken precautionary steps, including extra fuelling before flights to Frankfurt, to keep operations reliable despite possible supply constraints and did not currently expect flight cancellations

• Airport operator Fraport told Bild a pipeline feeding jet fuel to Frankfurt was undergoing routine maintenance but said operations were not impaired

• Lufthansa and Fraport did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment on Thursday