Spring Break
American Airlines utilizing fuel saving measures
Andy Kwok
Issue date: 7/11/06 Section: Aeronautica
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American Airlines employs a micromanagement business strategy to minimize their fuel consumption.
For an airliner that has about 2,500 domestic and international flights per day, these measures can save up to three billion gallons of fuel per year. For instance, pilots were instructed to taxi around the airport with only one engine turned on, a measure that would save about $4 million a year.
Reducing the aircraft weight by removing unnecessary items on board to lower fuel consumption was another tactic implemented. Excessive food galleys were removed to reduce weight.
Fresh water carried on board for coffee and flush was reduced byhalf because they were unnecessary. The extra room from the removal of food galleys was replaced with four seats for some planes.
Passengers were instructed to lower the shades as much as possible so the aircraft would remain cool to increase air conditioning savings.
Currently, the carrier began to install eight foot winglets on 20 of their Boeing 757 aircrafts to reduce wing drag during flight to increase flight range and fuel efficiency. The airliner expected to save aboutthree million gallons of fuel annually or the equivalent of 100,000-140,000 gallons per aircraft annually with these winglets.
American Airlines planned expand the winglets installation program to their fleet of 737s in the future. The company has also parked 27 aged gas-guzzling MD-80 jets since July to remove excessive capacity and lower fuel consumption.
The carrier would save $10 million this year by parking half of its MD-80 fleet and about $60 million in the next few years if the MD-80s remain out of service.
Overall, the company reduced its aircraft fleet from 770 planes down to 699 planes in past three years. The carrier currently operateson six types of planes instead of 14 types three years ago.
The effect of these measures was proven to be promising with a reduction of 84 million gallons of fuel consumption and $161 million in savings.
For an airliner that has about 2,500 domestic and international flights per day, these measures can save up to three billion gallons of fuel per year. For instance, pilots were instructed to taxi around the airport with only one engine turned on, a measure that would save about $4 million a year.
Reducing the aircraft weight by removing unnecessary items on board to lower fuel consumption was another tactic implemented. Excessive food galleys were removed to reduce weight.
Fresh water carried on board for coffee and flush was reduced byhalf because they were unnecessary. The extra room from the removal of food galleys was replaced with four seats for some planes.
Passengers were instructed to lower the shades as much as possible so the aircraft would remain cool to increase air conditioning savings.
Currently, the carrier began to install eight foot winglets on 20 of their Boeing 757 aircrafts to reduce wing drag during flight to increase flight range and fuel efficiency. The airliner expected to save aboutthree million gallons of fuel annually or the equivalent of 100,000-140,000 gallons per aircraft annually with these winglets.
American Airlines planned expand the winglets installation program to their fleet of 737s in the future. The company has also parked 27 aged gas-guzzling MD-80 jets since July to remove excessive capacity and lower fuel consumption.
The carrier would save $10 million this year by parking half of its MD-80 fleet and about $60 million in the next few years if the MD-80s remain out of service.
Overall, the company reduced its aircraft fleet from 770 planes down to 699 planes in past three years. The carrier currently operateson six types of planes instead of 14 types three years ago.
The effect of these measures was proven to be promising with a reduction of 84 million gallons of fuel consumption and $161 million in savings.
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