Airlines’ digital push could help cut fuel costs
The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated airlines’ digital uptake as carriers look for ways to reduce human touchpoints. But that push has had another effect, too. It’s reduced cabin weight, and that can mean big cost savings.
Singapore Airlines Ltd.’s lowcost carrier Scoot on Thursday said it’s introducing an in-flight system called ScootHub that customers can access via their mobile devices to order food, drinks, duty-free goods and other services. It estimates the move will not only reduce paper consumption by more than 156 metric tons but cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by over 41 tons and save more than 13 tons of fuel.
COVID-19 has also prompted
British Airways to remove printed copies of its in-flight magazine, in circulation for more than half a century. Now, the magazine is available as a free download on passengers’ personal devices, helping British Airways trim a significant amount of weight, according to Inmarsat Aviation.
“The pandemic has given airlines an impetus to leverage digital solutions more extensively as a means to reduce common passenger touchpoints, with weight reduction being an additional benefit,” said David Coiley, Asia Pacific vice president for Inmarsat.
Anything that reduces costs in aviation right now is good for the industry. Managing expenses is critical for airlines battling the economic effect of the pandemic. Carriers globally have let go of hundreds of thousands of staff, and industry losses are now expected to be around $118.5 billion this year, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Fuel is one of the largest and most variable expenses for airlines, accounting for almost a quarter of operating costs, and cabin weight is known to have a notable effect on reducing those charges. In 2018, United Airlines Holdings Inc. saved $290,000 in annual fuel costs merely by using a lighter weight of paper for its inflight magazine. In another welldocumented example, American Airlines Group Inc. removed just one olive from each salad plate to save $40,000.
Technology advances have made it possible for airlines to phase out in-flight menus, magazines and entertainment consoles, which can weigh up to 13 pounds each, according to Coiley. Onboard retail is another area where airlines can trim weight, instead using e-commerce apps and couriers to deliver in-flight purchases once on the ground.
Finnair Oyj ended in-flight duty-free sales in Europe this year. It also removed plastic cutlery in favor of a lighter, more sustainable alternative as part of its weight reduction drive, saving $20,000 in fuel costs.
“COVID-19 has amplified the need to look for more avenues of cost savings and hastened the use of touch-free technology,” said Vasudevan S, an aviation partner at KPMG LLP in India.
Other ways in which airlines can decrease weight include a reduction of air sickness bags, lighter food carts and carrying food and drinks that must be pre-ordered, he said.