AIRLINE NEWS
Friday, May 23, 2008
Passenger planes on go-slow over fuel
Qantas and Jetstar planes have slowed their flying speed in a bid to beat soaring jet fuel costs.
Jetstar has been flying more slowly since last month to conserve fuel, adding several minutes to flights, News Ltd reported on Friday.
A spokesman for Qantas, which owns Jetstar, confirmed its planes had been using variable speed to cut fuel consumption for the past two years.
A Virgin Blue spokeswoman said while it had not altered cruising speeds it was considering slowing its planes during descent.
Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said fuel prices had risen by 68 per cent in the past 12 months.
"The challenge for airlines is that fuel costs are at record levels," he told News Ltd.
"We have been conducting a trial where aircraft flights are taking a bit longer and burning less fuel.
"Early indications are that we are seeing positive savings in terms of fuel."
The practice, already used in the US, is expected to save airlines millions of dollars and reduce the upward pressure on airfares.
Qantas on Thursday announced it would increase its international fares by four per cent and domestic fares by three per cent from June 4 on the back of soaring world oil prices, which also forced petrol prices beyond $1.60 this week.
Source: au.news.yahoo.com
Jetstar has been flying more slowly since last month to conserve fuel, adding several minutes to flights, News Ltd reported on Friday.
A spokesman for Qantas, which owns Jetstar, confirmed its planes had been using variable speed to cut fuel consumption for the past two years.
A Virgin Blue spokeswoman said while it had not altered cruising speeds it was considering slowing its planes during descent.
Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said fuel prices had risen by 68 per cent in the past 12 months.
"The challenge for airlines is that fuel costs are at record levels," he told News Ltd.
"We have been conducting a trial where aircraft flights are taking a bit longer and burning less fuel.
"Early indications are that we are seeing positive savings in terms of fuel."
The practice, already used in the US, is expected to save airlines millions of dollars and reduce the upward pressure on airfares.
Qantas on Thursday announced it would increase its international fares by four per cent and domestic fares by three per cent from June 4 on the back of soaring world oil prices, which also forced petrol prices beyond $1.60 this week.
Source: au.news.yahoo.com
