MEMpilot

For anyone wanting some interesting data pertaining to fuel operating costs for airlines...

"Alaska Airlines indicated in March 2004 that removing just five magazines per aircraft could save $10,000 per year in fuel"

"Alaska's new beverage cart, at 20lbs. lighter, could save $500,000 in annual fuel costs"

So my business proposal will be to find creative ways to reduce operating costs significantly; in effort to keep pilot pay scales satisfactory while keeping passenger fares low...basically try to make everyone happy. This particular site had some interesting ideas, such as the ones above.

http://www.airlines.org/NR/rdonlyres...lines_Fuel.pdf

Illini

good read. Interesting to see how different airlines save money.

skycowboy

5 magazines? I am skeptical...

and thats no offense to you MEM by the way, you didn't write the report - something about that just seems weird... like their testing methods etc...

Spartan07

Maybe they meant five types of magazines? However, If you look at BBoys post with the video links they show AA (I believe) doing the same thing. Taking out unused ovens, magazines and such to save millionS of dollars a year. Pretty interesting stuff and very plausible if you think about how many planes fly every day and how every extra pound burns just a little bit of fuel. Taking that extra weight away can really add up over the course of a year.

MEMpilot

Yeah I thought five magazines was pretty bizarre as well.

I might contact someone later and see if I can confirm this or get an explanation for why this is case. I'll let yall know.

vagabond

Associated Press and Reuters are reporting that Boeing is working with Virgin Atlantic on the development of a new biofuel for jets as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Boeing also announced that Virgin ordered 15 more 787s and is now the largest European order to date for the Dreamliner.

There are many ways to reduce weight on an aircraft, and those listed in the article make logical sense. I just flew Continental and the poor little 737-800 was jammed full to the gills with people and their belongings, some of whom appeared to have brought along the proverbial kitchen sink. Perhaps a limit to checked baggage and carry on baggage should be enforced. In another post, I tried to resurrect an old idea of standing seats for short flights of one hour or less. I certainly don't mind standing and walking around a less crowded cabin. And sure, get rid of those magazines. If not, at least make the crossword puzzles a little more challenging! In yet another post a long time ago, I noted for the group that an airline in China is asking passengers to use the bathroom before boarding the plane. Apparently, every ounce makes a difference.

Ewfflyer

I got an idea, how about a liposuction station prior to boarding? That'd save at least a few thousand lbs over 100+ pax, and of course would only be truly effective in America.

1Seat 1Engine

Put some of these captains on a workout program...

Of course the fuel savings would be offset by paying them retirement longer.

Sorry, forgot that none of us have a retirement...

ryane946

I belive that is 100% true. Think about it. Alaska has 113 aircraft. Say each aircraft flies 10 hours a day. Say fuel burn is 800gph for a 737. Say Jet fuel is $2 a gallon. That is $1,800,000 a day. That is about $650 million dollars of fuel a year. (This was an estimate, and may be off, but it is a good ball park figure).

They claimed they could save $10,000 a year. That is 1/66000 of their total fuel burn. If you consider that the max takeoff weight of a 737-400 is 149,000lbs, 1/66000 of the total weight is approximately 2.25 pounds. That is about the weight of 5 magazines wouldn't you say?

Weight is a huge design driver for an aircraft!! Just a few magazines can add up big time!!!!

blastboy

I love this idea. I sat behind a guy, bless his soul, who needed two seats in the RJ for himself. It's definitely more prevalent in America than elsewhere.

Hey, if the airlines are saving so much money by cutting down on all this bogus weight, share the wealth! They should dump all this saving back into the pockets of the employees who've sacrificed so much over the years.

In response to the captains' weight loss program: I think most of the pilots have lost weight over the years due to the fact that the paycuts put a choke hold on their food budget. You guys saved the company a load of money on weight reduction and didn't even know it! Relax, forum flamers. It was my lame attempt at humor. LOL