Your Plane Is on a Diet to Save Fuel
Jennifer Billock June 19, 2018
FILE - MARCH 12: The FAA approved Boeing's plan to fix the 787 Dreamliner's batteries on March 12, 2013, with more testing required. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: The new Boeing Dreamliner 787 sits on the tarmac at Manchester Airport during it's tour of the world on April 24, 2012 in Manchester, England. The Boeing Dreamliner 787 is made of composite materials and uses 20% less fuel than equivalent aircraft. Thompson Holidays were the first Uk company to buy the new 787. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
In order to battle against increasing fares, some airlines are working to decrease the weight of their planes in order to use less fuel – by tackling everything from the construction of the seats all the way down to the specific type of paper used on board.
For the first three months of 2018, American Airlines experienced a 26 percent increase in its fuel bill – something the airline says will likely increase ticket prices.
In response to the gas increase, various airlines are working to try and lighten up their planes in order to save fuel costs. For United, that means scrutinizing every item on an aircraft.
“Anytime we can reduce even an ounce of weight, that means we burn less fuel to fly to that destination,” Aaron Stash, United’s head of environmental strategy and sustainability, told CBS News. “Even an ounce, because if you are multiplying that across the thousands of seats and the thousands of flights we have, that ounce adds up and multiplies very quickly.”
As an example, after United reduced its paper stock by just one ounce per sheet, the airline saved about $300,000 per year. The airline also reduced beverage cart weight by about 50 percent, and the planes have new cargo containers that weigh 80 pounds less – which will lead to an annual fuel savings of about 200 million gallons.
“We’ve improved our efficiency over 30 percent,” Stash told CBS News, “through the changes that we’re making on the interior of the cabin, the changes that we’re doing on the exterior of the aircraft, as well as the new aircraft that we’re purchasing.”
As for other airlines, Southwest has switched to slimline seats, gotten rid of glass bottles and given pilots manuals on tablets instead of paper. JetBlue switched to a lighter entertainment system, and Spirit installed smaller tray tables and lighter seats.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
I've watched FA struggle with heavy carts, yes they got drinks and all, but wonder how much savings their would be to redesign with far more advance and lighter materials? Also totally believe tickets should be weight based, as another poster noted, take more space and more fuel, seems totally logical and business sense. Can you imagine the outcry and gridlock on check-in with a scale and surcharges above your paid weight-ticket class, LOL
jrpallante: A sumo wrestler doesn't pay the same rate to fly as a gymnast. He pays double because he requires 2 seats to travel. No encroachment involved.
Adding to that - then passengers who weigh in under the limit receive an automatic credit, either cash or miles. This also benefits people who carry less when they travel.
Charging by weight makes sense but maybe carrot vs stick. In Washington State where I live, I get a discount on our ferry system for having a smaller car. So people could pay a set price for a ticket, then they get weighed when they go on board. Of course, weight should include carry-on.
...Southwest is apparently taking the RyanAir route by going to those thinly padded slimline seats to continue cramming passengers into their "cattle class" cabins. Also their move away from glass containers most likely means more plastic which means more waste as not every state has comprehensive recycling programmes/.