What does declaring minimum fuel to Air Traffic Control (ATC) indicate?

Declaring minimum fuel to Air Traffic Control indicates that the aircraft is approaching a critically low fuel state, which suggests that an emergency situation could develop if the situation is not managed effectively. While it is not a declaration of an emergency, it serves as an important notification to ATC that the aircraft may require additional priority in handling to avoid an emergency. This declaration can help ensure that ATC provides the necessary support and adjustments to traffic flow to assist the pilot in landing safely without running out of fuel.

The essence of declaring minimum fuel is to communicate to ATC that the fuel situation is serious enough that the aircraft needs prompt assistance, which can include expedited traffic sequencing or clearance to land as soon as possible. This does not imply an immediate intent to land, nor does it explicitly request a diversion or necessarily indicate that priority handling is guaranteed, but rather it highlights that careful consideration of fuel status is critical.