Slimfast Diet, Airlines Version

Fascinating data points from an ATA document on how airlines are trying to slim down to save weight and stay in business given jet fuel at record levels:

• One airline saved over 17 gallons/year per pound of weight per airplane after shedding inflight phones, ovens, excess potable water, and some galley equipment on an older fleet
• In removing seatback phones from its MD-80s and B737-400s, another airline shed 200 pounds per airplane, translating into 3,400+ gallons saved annually
• Alaska Airlines (ALK) indicated in March 2004 that removing just five magazines per aircraft could save $10,000 per year in fuel; also, the airline has reduced the weight of catering supplies
• Air Canada considered stripping primer and paint from its 767s to save 360 lbs. per plane
• JetBlue (JBLU) and US Airways (LCC) and others have moved toward a paperless cockpit
• By removing six seats, JetBlue reduced A320 weight by approximately 904 pounds
• Airlines have been able to remove ovens, trash compactors, or even entire galleys, due to the elimination of hot meals on selected flights; others are using lighter seats; they have also removed magazine racks and replaced hard cabin dividers with curtains
• AirTran ordered carbon fiber Recaro seats for its 737-700s to shave 19.4 pounds per row, resulting in estimated fuel savings of $2,000 per year per aircraft
• Alaska’s new beverage cart, at 20 lbs. lighter, could save $500,000 in annual fuel costs
• Some airlines flush lavatories during extended ground delays to minimize takeoff weight

Imagine how much we could save without passengers, or, heck, without flying at all!

Comments

[ualguy:]

The second idiotic article of the day regarding airlines for Seeking Alpha. If the airlines don't do all they can to save money by cutting weight and thereby fuel costs right now, Mr. Kedrosky won't have to worry about flying on a commercail airline in the future.

2008 Jul 14 04:51 PM

[gs liar:]

Since you seem to think airlines doing "whatever it takes" to survive bothers you then DRIVE or ride a bike next time you need to travel. Those facts you stated and make them sound "silly". Those cost cuts will save a few thousand jobs. But the thousands of jobs lost already don't mean anything to you. You act like we are still at $50 Oil. Get your silver spoon out of your mouth. Good thing you blog instead of running a company. Any company you run would make a great short.

2008 Jul 14 05:03 PM

[Wez:]

Wow, tough crowd in here.

2008 Jul 14 05:52 PM

[Captain Car...:]

Don't be a jerk. The airlines have to do something-anything to try to get the costs down because they surely can't expect the customer to pay for what it actually costs to run an airline. It's not just the fuel. It's landing fees, gate leases, ground equipment, maintenance on all equipment, training personnel, spare parts. All you see is some inconvenience for the passenger. The airlines are fighting for survival.

2008 Jul 14 10:52 PM

[Robert Cassidy:]

Airfare should be adjusted/surcharged according to the total weight of the passenger and baggage .If the fat on the asses of so many Americans were crude petroleum, the USA would be an oil exporting country !

2008 Jul 15 12:20 AM

[User 226768:]

the nature of comments on this site keeps me from commenting now or visiting in the future. suggest you consider moderation.

2008 Jul 15 04:26 PM

[Dr. Steven:]

I have observed the occasional elderly passenger becoming short of breath at high altitudes and requiring oxygen. My regular travel companion, an elderly Yorkshire terrier, becomes short of breath on certain airline flights.
I am quite suspicious that cabin pressure is often lower than is acceptable for safe and comfortable travel. Decreased pressure decreases the airplane's weight significantly as well as the oxygen concentration in the air aboard.
I've heard complaints from otherwise healthy passengers of experiencing headaches more frequently when flying as well as worse jet lag in recent years.
Have any of you readers of Seeking Alpha experienced physical discomfort while flying more frequently now that airlines are focusing on decreasing the weight of planes as a cost saving measure?

2008 Jul 19 03:50 AM

[shure46:]

yes , this article was worthless , and I am not finding anything worth reading from the so-called analysts ......I am curious what people think of AMR right now .....I could sell @ 8.90 and make a decent little lick , but I am wondering if I should get greedy !!!!!! Anyone have any thoughts ?????? My average is @ like 6.50 , and I am thinking of course fuel will come down in the fall , which may bump AMR and CAL up more

2008 Jul 22 12:37 PM

[RedBaron007:]

I have not heard of any airline lowering cabin pressure and thus raising cabin altitude to save fuel. Pressurizing the cabin does not add weight to the airplane. It is illegal to allow cabin altitude to intentionally rise above 10,000 ft. Higher cabin altitudes are uncomfortable for passengers (7,000 ft+), so generally they are avoided if possible. The relative humidity in the cabin (which is much lower than normal) and stress would be more likely factors for your elderly dog's faster breath. Flying at cabin altitudes above 10,000 ft would compromise safety, as lower amounts of oxygen in the blood decrease brain function, which is why oxygen is provided for high altitude flight, in the event of a cabin pressure loss.


On Jul 19 03:50 AM Dr. Steven wrote:

> I have observed the occasional elderly passenger becoming short of
> breath at high altitudes and requiring oxygen. My regular travel
> companion, an elderly Yorkshire terrier, becomes short of breath
> on certain airline flights.
> I am quite suspicious that cabin pressure is often lower than is
> acceptable for safe and comfortable travel. Decreased pressure decreases
> the airplane's weight significantly as well as the oxygen concentration
> in the air aboard.
> I've heard complaints from otherwise healthy passengers of experiencing
> headaches more frequently when flying as well as worse jet lag in
> recent years.
> Have any of you readers of Seeking Alpha experienced physical discomfort
> while flying more frequently now that airlines are focusing on decreasing
> the weight of planes as a cost saving measure?

2008 Aug 17 05:56 PM