Airlines making fuel and emissions savings
02.06.08
The global airline industry is taking many different measures to cut fuel costs and emissions, according to a report today. For example Japan Airlines has made its spoons lighter by two grams and American Airlines now only paints its signature red, white and blue stripes on the bare metal of the aircraft rather than on the entire fuselage. In the UK Virgin Atlantic is following a similar weight reduction strategy.
The airlines say that these steps will help reduce the weight of the aircraft, which, in turn, will burn less fuel and thus decrease pollution. Some airlines say the results are already showing. American estimates that the decision not to paint the entire aircraft has helped reduce its weight and thereby the fuel-burn by almost 12 million gallons a year, cutting carbon emissions by 114,000 tonnes.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has improved the fuel efficiency of its aircraft resulting in fuel savings of 355.7 million kg last year, and reduced emissions of 1.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Southwest Airlines and a number of other carriers recycle all cabin waste, and the introduction of electronic ticketing systems has dramatically cut the aviation industries use of paper.
Airlines are also experimenting by using fuel that pollutes less. In February this year, Virgin operated its first flight using bio-fuel. The Boeing 747-400 aircraft flew from Heathrow to Amsterdam using this environmentally friendly fuel. The results of the bio-fuel usage will be shared with other airlines in the rest of the industry that are seeking to cut carbon emissions.
At the industry level, the 240 airlines that are members of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing 94% of the global aviation industry, have agreed to a four-pronged strategy on climate change. This includes investing in new technology, building and using the available infrastructure more efficiently apart from operating aircraft more efficiently.
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