ENGINES FOR REGIONAL JETS

the COVID-19 hit the industry hard, and expense and earning calculations got upset.

Jet fuel prices have increased significantly during the past decade, resulting in fuel cost becoming airlines’ primary operating cost. Given the relevance of the air transport system for the economy, it is important that industry and policy makers are aware of changes and likely future impacts driven by increased fuel prices. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, covers the need for aviation fuel research and development and independent review of energy and environmentrelated research programmes. The future market-based carbon constraint policies may further increase the effective price of jet fuel. IATA analysis found that the fuel price increase after 2004, could be correlated to airline fuel efficiency improvement. Although fuel efficiency gains from new, more fuel efficient aircraft appear to be limited between 2004 and 2010, data analysis provides evidence for a number of operational changes, such as cruise speed reduction, which may have led to improved airline fuel efficiency. It was found that increasing fuel price may have reduced short stage-length traffic. Future fuel price scenarios indicate that any increase in fuel price would reduce the rate

The major expenses that affect airline industry are labour and fuel costs. Labour costs are largely fixed in the short-term, while fuel costs can swing wildly based on the price of oil. It is because of this, more attention is required to fuel costs. Two-thirds of the cost of flying an airplane is fixed, so changes in fuel costs can swing a flight from profit to loss depending on passengers onboard. Historically, the airline industry continues to be brutally competitive, even though air travel has become an integral part of life. The cost of flying continues to trend lower. Internet has also created greater price transparency, and has reduced margins. Labour accounts for approximately 35 per cent of the total of operating expenses of the airlines. During downturns, management looks to cut labour costs by laying off workers or reducing pay and perks. Maintenance, spares, labour, handling luggage, airport fees, taxes, marketing, promotions, travel agent commissions and passenger expenses, all account for nearly 55 per cent of total operating costs.

There is a need for a comprehensive view of total-fleet operational fuel consumption. Aviation operators need to have insight into current fuel usage through all phases of flight. This visibility enables better decision making to reduce fuel consumption, costs and emissions and giving an opportunity to decrease fuel consumption. Special software can analyse hundreds of parameters derived directly from the operational data and help flight-by-flight comparison for each fuel saving initiative. Airline operators have to control fuel consumption without falling outside the scope of operational procedures and safety rules. In airline business, the basic factors determining the competitive advantage are price, quality and cost efficiency. Airlines do not have many options to directly affect the ticket prices in highly competitive airline market because price is mostly determined by market dynamics. Therefore, airlines primarily focus on their costs. They have to gain a competitive advantage by keeping costs low. Fluctuations in fuel prices and restriction of

There are challenges and opportunities for more-electric aircraft, of 787 or A350 class. Hydraulic and pneumatic systems, such as those for actuation or air conditioning, are already being replaced by electrical systems to save weight and improve reliability. Each 787 can produce around 1,000 kVA for onboard systems, markedly more than previousgeneration models. Onboard power storage has also grown significantly. E-Fan X hybrid-electric demonstrator was expected to fly in 2020. Boeing will initially develop an electrically powered ten-seater. An electrically powered, 180-seat, short-haul aircraft is expected by 2027. Hybrid-electric system would initially be heavier than the fossil fuel-based propulsion system.