A major fuel shortage at Melbourne Airport sparked by a substandard shipment of imported aviation fuel has forced some international flights to divert and re-fuel and could cause flight delays later today.

The ABC has been told that less than 2 million litres of aviation fuel is available at the country's second busiest airport after a shipment of imported fuel failed quality controls following its arrival by ship in Melbourne.

Victorian Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said she wrote to Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester on October 17 requesting his immediate intervention.

"While Melbourne Airport falls under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, the Andrews Labor Government is willing to provide any assistance it can to ensure a prompt resolution," she said in a statement.

"I've also asked for an urgent meeting with Mr Chester to discuss the development of a plan for greater storage capacity and the need for competition among fuel suppliers."

An A380 can require more than 300,000 litres of fuel for a long-haul flight.

The ABC understands that the supply of fuel from Victoria's two local refineries, which provide fuel directly to the airport via a pipeline, is operating normally.

The incident is believed to be far more severe than two fuel shortages last year that forced airlines to ration fuel when flying and has raised serious questions about the reliability of Australia's fuel supply system.

A decade ago seven fuel refineries operated in Australia, but that number fell to four last year following several closures in Sydney and Brisbane.

Two refineries still operate in Victoria and provide much of Melbourne Airport's requirements, but imports from Asia are needed to meet extra demand.

Ms D'Ambrosio said Sydney Airport's fuel storage capacity is more than double that of Melbourne Airport.

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Barry Abrams, executive director of the Board of Airline Representatives of Australia, said the fuel shortage was particularly troubling for international airlines and was likely to cause problems from as early as this afternoon.

"International airlines were last night advised that due to shortages in the supply of jet fuel to the airport, the National Operating Committee on Jet Fuel Supply Assurance changed the fuel supply status in Melbourne to a 'black traffic light' and immediate and deep fuel rationing," Mr Abrams said.

Mr Abrams, whose members spend more than $4 billion annually on fuel, said that the shortages were due to a failure to deal with known and avoidable fuel supply issues and were now undermining the growth of Victoria's aviation and tourism industries.

"There's a lack of urgency in addressing this issue and there has been no orderly investments to increase the capacity of the jet fuel infrastructure supply chain since the previous shortages in 2015, despite growing demand for jet fuel at Melbourne Airport," he said.

BARA'S members spend more than $4 billion on jet fuel each year and have been calling on the federal government to reform the jet fuel supply market to make it more internationally competitive.

Travellers told to contact airlines for flight information

The shortages also mean domestic flights operating into Melbourne will need to carry more fuel than normal to prevent Melbourne Airport's supplies being exhausted.

A spokesperson for ExxonMobil, which manages the airport's fuel supply on behalf of all fuel providers, said today's problems were the result of disruptions to jet fuel deliveries at multiple terminals in recent weeks.

"ExxonMobil is currently working with industry partners and aviation customers to manage a jet fuel supply issue at Melbourne Airport," the spokesperson said.

"As a jet fuel supplier to Melbourne Airport, ExxonMobil is also working to support other fuel suppliers in minimising any disruption to their customers.

"All jet fuel is rigorously screened at multiple points in the supply chain to ensure product quality."

A spokesperson for Qantas said the fuel shortage was not impacting its domestic services and its flights to Hong Kong and Singapore would stop in Sydney to refuel.

Virgin Australia said the fuel supply issues may cause some flights to be disrupted.

A spokesperson for Melbourne Airport said in a statement the airport was working closely with airlines to manage the shortage.

"Melbourne Airport understands that airlines are managing potential impacts and that there has been limited impact on airline schedules at this stage," the spokesperson said.

"Melbourne Airport recommends travellers contact their airline for the most up-to-date information about flights today."