Representatives from the eight U.S. hubs held an APU (auxiliary power unit) Summit in Chicago recently to share best practices and tips for reducing fuel burn during ground operations.
The APU is an engine in the tail of the aircraft that helps to supply electrical power and air conditioning for the aircraft. Most jetways are equipped with ground power and air to avoid APU burn, so a priority for our ground crews is to switch to ground power as soon as possible upon arrival.
The summit addressed the best practices in use at various hubs as well as improvements stemming from integration. Attendees expressed support for future summits where we can review our progress and celebrate our fuel-saving successes.