Airlines Cut Flights and Planes to Save Fuel
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA 
on 03.20.08
Image courtesy of the DK Report via Stock High.
We’ve already seen the profits of Ryanair and British Airways squeezed by higher oil prices, not to mention, in the words of Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, ‘eco-loonies’ avoiding unnecessary air travel. Now we’re hearing similar concerns over this side of the Atlantic, at least when it comes to oil prices. According to USA Today, airlines are planning on fewer flights, less planes, and a shift to more efficient engines in response to a 30% rise in fuel costs:
•Delta will dump 15-20 older, less efficient mainline jets, plus 20-25 regional jets. The change will result in a 10% reduction in Delta's domestic flying capacity by year's end. It also will eliminate at least 2,000 jobs.
•United will remove 10-15 older mainline jets to partially offset fuel costs that could swell $1.2 billion more than planned this year.
United has led in raising fares to offset rising fuel prices. But CFO Jake Brace warned that the industry likely won't be able to raise fares enough to fully cover higher costs.
•JetBlue will sell four more Airbus A320s, on top of the six it previously announced that it would sell. In total, 10 A320s will leave the fleet by early 2009.
•US Airways will fly three fewer planes during the second half of the year than previously expected and could cut back further, President Scott Kirby said.
Interesting times for the aviation industry. Could such pressures make the likelihood of cleaner, more-efficient European- or Japanese-style train systems more viable over here too? We can but hope…
::USA Today::via site visit::
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Do you realise how many jobs will be lost if airlines close down? There will be many familys suffering and for what reason? Iit might be possible(not proven) that carbon emissions may cause global warming?
Right now our economy runs on oil. It is agreed by ALL that we need to find a new way to make energy more efficiently and cheaper but not at the expense of jobs, inexpensive travel and the conveinences we are used to.
If there was proffit in a train system it would already be here. Companys would be willing to risk capitol to build a rail system.
How much damage to the environment would a rail system cause??? why don't we all just go back to the stone age, walk and ride our bikes? Why is it that all your solutions are for the government to take more freedom and control???
I think all those that want all these government controls should do just that, sell your cars, walk or bike, to work, in small houses of 800 sq ft. with your wife and 2 kids with no air conditioning or heat. Take only vacations by walking, or biking and living in a tent. If you really beileive in what you say lets see some action. Practice what you preach before you take away my comfort and freedom through government control.
@ Neil: Did you even read the article? It doesn't mention government control once. No emission caps or carbon taxes, just rising fuel prices and the airlines' response.
A world without air travel is hard to imagine but if people can't afford to pay for the fuel then we might end up taking trains, all without any "government control."
Cheers
Practice what I preach? I'm sorry, I don't practice what you have preached, and you may look down on me for that, but we live in a modern world with modern comforts and problems as well. Global warming? I'd go with climate change. Remember the 70s when there was a cooling trend and everyone panicked? It is too early to point fingers in several directions, and the airline isn't to be blamed. Besides, they aren't even profitable and haven't been for sometime. There will be mergers, they may even be more government interaction, but oil still seems to be the main issue here. It will take time for people to make the change, mainly because it is such a strong emphasis in our economy.
And a rail system? We have it. Many use planes though because of the time it takes to use a train. And how will a train reach France? Let's set up an international rail system, eh, I think not, not profitable. But I will say this, renewable energy needs to be used in the near future, and it needs to be profitable and efficient. Until then, all hail oil.