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Airlines go on diets to save on fuel

Airlines go on diets to save on fuel Airlines are going on diets to lose weight and save fuel during hard times for global economies.
The Times reports that carriers are using various innovative measures to lower on-board weight from non-essential equipment and facilities.

British Airways is currently replacing its canteen trolleys with low-mass models and reducing the weight of in-flight meals, alongside eliminating cabin crew paperwork.

The airline currently spends in excess of £8 million per day on fuel and each plane typically carries around three tonnes of catering equipment and food.

A BA spokesman said that "we are reviewing our catering and looking at how much it weighs and looking at how much meals weigh".

"Airlines are having to look at absolutely everything. At some point our in-flight magazines could be electronic," added the spokesperson.

Other innovations include shaving millimetres from cutlery, cutting the stocks of sachets and even removing earplugs from planes.

Airlines are also trimming pages from in-flight magazines, lightening seats and using paper drinks stirrers instead of plastic.

Virgin Atlantic is incorporating less packaging in its meals to reduce weight and eventually hopes to offer a meal free from packaging.

Paul Charles, spokesman for Virgin Atlantic, told The Times that "when you add it all up for every flight each year, it does matter".

"We already have lighter seat fittings and lighter cargo bins. You can make thousands of tonnes of weight savings on each plane, each year," he added.

Many airlines are also cleaning out the soot deposits from engines to improve efficiency which experts believe can save around 17,000 kilolitres of fuel per year.


Travel Industry News posted on 15 August 2008

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