A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Declared Emergency
Procedure
On descent; received ACARS message from Dispatch stating VIP movement at airport and there may be a 10-minute delay. After checking weather; no delays were noted; weather was clear. After contacting Approach was advised to hold at KADDY Intersection; expect 25 minute in holding. I sent ACARS message to Dispatch notifying of hold. We had 35 minutes of hold fuel in release. I also notified Dispatch that I would burn down to arrive [with] 4;000 LBS fuel and if not released to [destination] by then would declare minimum fuel.After reaching our EFC; asked Approach how much longer. They stated at least 25 minutes. My First Officer and I discussed this and decided to declare minimum fuel. Approach stated 'sorry we can't help you'; and that we should proceed to our alternate. I again sent a message to Dispatch asked about alternate airports. Dispatch stated that [a nearby airport] was approved for 757/767 only and that we may have to declare an emergency to get to [destination]. After several minutes my First Officer and I decided to declare emergency and proceed to [destination]. We notified Approach; [and] were given direct airport. Landed [and] taxied to gate. No further problems. VIP movement was supposed to be completed by an hour before; but this did not occur. Dispatch had hold fuel for delay; however additional holding was not expected. Approach did not honor minimum fuel request for priority handling. This forced us to declare an emergency.
A320 Captain reported minimum fuel to Approach while holding for VIP movement on destination airport. When that did not produce the desired result; he declared an emergency and landed at destination.