7 Clever Ways Airlines are Saving Money

Airlines are always changing, especially with the increasing oil prices and number of passengers. In order to save money, many airlines are implementing a few changes to help save money. While many of these changes may not seem very big, the impact they can make on an airline’s bottom line is huge.

7 Ways Airlines are Saving Money

Below are 7 of the most common ways that airlines are saving money:

1. Plastic Straws – Not only does going straw-less help save oceans from this waste, they also provide lighter airplanes. It may not seem like straws are very heavy, but most airlines have dropped as much as 70,000 pounds as a result of ditching the straws!
2. Thinner Seats – Removing some of the extra cushioning from the airline seats is a great way to save space and oil. While this may sound like a less comfortable option for passengers, these seats can be just as accommodating.
3. Lighter Magazines – The weight of in-flight magazines has been cut almost in half simply by changing the card stock used in the magazines. A lighter plane means less fuel is being used, saving the airline money.
4. Less Paper – Southwest Airlines has recently equipped their flight attendants and pilots with electronic flight bags. This eliminates the need to carry paper manuals and charts, removing around 80 pounds from each flight and saving up to 575,000 gallons of fuel in the process!
5. Lighter Drinking Carts – Many airlines are making efforts to lighten their drink carts. This includes serving fewer drinks on red-eye flights, as people tend to drink less at nighttime. This is saving money on fuel costs.
6. Better Lime Slicing – As bizarre as it sounds, the way a lime is sliced can make a huge difference. For example, Northwest Airlines has begun to slice limes into 16 pieces instead of 10, reducing the number of limes they have to carry onboard by almost a half!
7. Lighter Utensils – Lastly, the Australian airline, Qantas has created a new line of utensils that around 11% lighter than the previous ones being used. As a result, they have saved an annual 535,000 kilograms in fuel, according to a Qantas spokesperson.

The airline industry is an ever-changing and exciting one. To learn more about your future as a pilot, please contact Elevate Aviation. Our flight school is located here in Salt Lake City, Utah.