Sylvie Willis
The amount of fuel a passenger jet carries depends on a variety of factors, including the type of aircraft, flight duration, and the number of passengers on board. For example, a Boeing 747 burns around 10-11 tons of jet fuel per hour, while a shorter flight using a Boeing 737-800 may only use 2.5-3 tons per hour. The fuel efficiency of aircraft has improved over time, with jet airliners becoming 70% more fuel-efficient between 1967 and 2007. However, the growth of air travel has outpaced these improvements, leading to concerns about climate sustainability. Fuel costs for airlines can be significant, with jet fuel prices rising in recent years and impacting ticket prices. Understanding the fuel consumption and economics of passenger jets is crucial for both the aviation industry and travellers alike.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel used by a passenger jet | Jet fuel, also known as kerosene-based fuel |
| Fuel efficiency of jets vs turboprops | Jets used by major airlines today are faster than turboprops, but turboprops are more fuel-efficient |
| Fuel efficiency of jets over time | Jet airliners became 70% more fuel-efficient between 1967 and 2007; average fuel burn of new aircraft fell 45% from 1968 to 2014 |
| Fuel efficiency per passenger | A Boeing 747 achieves 100 miles to the gallon for every passenger; Airbus states a fuel rate consumption of their A380 at 78 passenger-miles per US gallon; in 2018, the average fuel consumption per passenger was 3.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel consumption per aircraft type | Boeing 747: 10-11 tons of fuel per hour; Boeing 737-800: 2.5-3 tons of fuel per hour; Airbus A320: 2.5 tons of fuel per hour; Boeing 777: 7-8 tons of fuel per hour; Airbus A380: 11-12 tons of fuel per hour; Falcon 8X: 346.5 gallons of fuel per hour |
| Fuel cost per flight | A flight from New York to London using an Airbus A350 XWB costs nearly $110,000 in fuel; a flight from London to New York using a Boeing 747-400 costs approximately £18,500 in fuel |
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What You'll Learn
Fuel efficiency of jet aircraft
The fuel efficiency of jet aircraft has improved significantly over the years. Modern jet aircraft have twice the fuel efficiency of the earliest jet airliners. For instance, late 1950s piston airliners like the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation and DC-7 were 1% to 28% more energy-intensive than 1990s jet airliners, which cruised 40% to 80% faster. This can be attributed to the fact that early jet airliners were designed when crew labor costs were higher relative to fuel costs.
The fuel economy of an aircraft is measured by the amount of transport energy efficiency it exhibits. Efficiency is improved by better aerodynamics, weight reduction, and improved engine brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC). The efficiency of an aircraft engine can be defined as the amount of energy imparted to the plane per unit of energy in the fuel. The rate at which energy is imparted equals thrust multiplied by airspeed.
To achieve thrust, an aircraft engine can either be a shaft engine (piston engine or turboprop) or a jet engine. The efficiency of a shaft engine is inversely proportional to its brake-specific fuel consumption, while that of a jet engine is given by its airspeed divided by the thrust-specific fuel consumption and the specific energy of the fuel. While turboprops have an optimum speed below 460 miles per hour, propeller planes are generally more efficient.
Over time, aircraft fuel efficiency has improved due to advancements in engine efficiency and airframes. For instance, wingtip devices on Airbus planes since the A310-300 in 1985 have reduced fuel burn by 3.5% on flights over 2,800 km. Additionally, newer aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A350, and Bombardier CSeries are 20% more fuel-efficient per passenger kilometre than previous-generation aircraft.
While jet aircraft have become more fuel-efficient, the amount of fuel they consume is still considerable. For example, a Boeing 747 quadjet burns up to one gallon of fuel every second, resulting in 18,000 gallons of fuel used during a five-hour flight. The Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft, consumes slightly more fuel due to its higher capacity. A typical A380 burns 4,600 gallons of fuel each hour, resulting in approximately 23,000 gallons of jet fuel used during a five-hour flight.
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Jet fuel cost
The cost of jet fuel has been rising in recent years, with jet fuel prices rising 0.8% in a week to $93.21 per barrel. This has led to an increase in ticket costs for passengers. The price of jet fuel depends on the region and is based on demand. Kerosene-based fuels are used for large planes because their flash point is higher than gasoline, making them more efficient and powerful.
A Boeing 747 burns up to one gallon of fuel every second, consuming 18,000 gallons of fuel during a five-hour flight. This works out to around 0.01 gallons per person onboard for every mile travelled, or 100 miles to the gallon per passenger. A flight from London to New York on a Boeing 747-400 would cost approximately £18,500 in fuel (£41 per person), based on 1 litre costing 31 pence.
The Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft, consumes slightly more fuel than the Boeing 747 due to its higher capacity. An A380 uses about 4,600 gallons of fuel per hour, totalling 23,000 gallons for a five-hour flight. A transatlantic flight from New York to London on an Airbus A350 XWB would cost nearly $110,000 in fuel, based on the average price of $6.46 per gallon.
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Fuel consumption rates of different aircraft
The fuel efficiency of an aircraft is defined as the amount of energy imparted to the plane per unit of energy in the fuel. The rate at which energy is imparted equals thrust multiplied by airspeed. The efficiency of an aircraft engine can be calculated by its propulsive efficiency or thrust-specific fuel consumption.
Several factors influence the amount of fuel consumed by an aircraft. These include the aircraft's weight, aerodynamics, engine brake-specific fuel consumption, and propulsive efficiency or thrust-specific fuel consumption. The maximum range of an aircraft is determined by how efficiently thrust can be applied to overcome aerodynamic drag. Additionally, the type of engine also impacts fuel efficiency. Aircraft engines can be shaft engines (piston or turboprop) or jet engines. The efficiency of a shaft engine is inversely proportional to its brake-specific fuel consumption, while the efficiency of a jet engine is given by its airspeed divided by the thrust-specific fuel consumption and the specific energy of the fuel.
The fuel consumption of an aircraft also depends on the flight conditions and parameters. Factors such as takeoff weight, flight time, cruising altitude, and speed impact fuel consumption. For example, short trips between 500 and 1500 kilometres tend to have worse fuel efficiency due to the relatively high fuel usage during takeoff compared to the cruise segment. Additionally, regional jets used on shorter flights are typically less fuel-efficient.
Different types of aircraft have varying fuel consumption rates. The Boeing 747 quadjet, for instance, burns up to one gallon of fuel per second, resulting in 18,000 gallons of fuel consumed during a five-hour flight. On the other hand, the Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft, consumes slightly more fuel than the Boeing 747 due to its higher capacity. An A380 burns approximately 4,600 gallons of fuel per hour, resulting in a total of 23,000 gallons of fuel for a five-hour flight.
However, it's important to consider the number of passengers when comparing fuel consumption rates. When taking into account the number of passengers, a Boeing 747 achieves 100 miles per gallon for every passenger, making it nearly twice as fuel-efficient as a car carrying one person. Newer aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A350, and Bombardier CSeries, are also more fuel-efficient per passenger kilometre than previous-generation aircraft. For example, the Airbus A380 is stated to have a fuel consumption rate of less than 3 L/100 km per passenger.
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Environmental impact of jet fuel
Jet fuel, which is mostly kerosene-based, has a significant environmental impact. The combustion of jet fuel results in the emission of various climate forcers, including carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), soot, and aerosol particles. These emissions contribute to global warming and climate change. According to a study, for a 100-year time horizon, CO2 is the primary driver of the environmental impact of jet fuel combustion, accounting for 47% of the total climate impact. However, for a 20-year time horizon, NOx and contrail-cirrus formation become the dominant factors, contributing 86.5% of the climate impact.
The environmental impact of jet fuel is not limited to climate change. Airport personnel and residents living close to airports are at risk of exposure to jet engine emissions, which contain volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. These emissions have been linked to adverse health effects, including cancer.
To address the environmental impact of jet fuel, there have been efforts to improve fuel efficiency and adopt more sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). However, SAF currently accounts for only 0.1% of global jet fuel usage. Additionally, organizations like ICAO have set aspirational goals for reducing the climate impact of international aviation by improving fuel efficiency and ensuring carbon-neutral growth.
The cost of jet fuel can also have indirect environmental implications. As fuel prices increase, airlines may pass these costs on to customers in the form of higher ticket prices, potentially affecting the affordability of air travel and influencing travel behaviour.
While jet aircraft are extremely fuel-efficient on a per-passenger basis, the sheer volume of fuel burned during flight contributes significantly to their environmental impact. For example, a Boeing 747 burns up to one gallon of fuel per second, resulting in 18,000 gallons of fuel consumed during a five-hour flight. The Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft, consumes even more fuel, with approximately 23,000 gallons burned during a five-hour flight.
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Kerosene-based jet fuel
Jet aircraft use a large amount of fuel. For example, a Boeing 747 quadjet burns up to one gallon of fuel per second, consuming 18,000 gallons of fuel during a five-hour flight. The Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft, consumes even more fuel, using about 23,000 gallons of jet fuel for a five-hour flight.
Most jet fuels are kerosene-based, with a higher flash point than gasoline-based fuel, requiring a significantly higher temperature to ignite. Kerosene-based jet fuel is defined by performance specifications rather than chemical compounds, with a carbon number distribution of about 8 to 16 carbon atoms per molecule. It is a high-quality fuel, and if it does not pass the purity and quality tests for jet aircraft, it is sold to ground-based users such as railroads.
Synthetic jet fuels, such as Fischer-Tropsch Synthesized Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK), are also certified for use in blends with conventional jet fuel. These synthetic fuels can reduce pollutants and improve air quality around airports. Qatar Airways operated the first commercial flight using a blend of synthetic Gas to Liquid (GTL) jet fuel and conventional jet fuel.
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Frequently asked questions
The amount of fuel a passenger jet carries depends on the type of aircraft, the length of the flight, and the number of passengers. For example, a Boeing 747 burns about one gallon of fuel per second, which amounts to 18,000 gallons of fuel for a five-hour flight. On the other hand, the Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft, consumes slightly more fuel, using about 4,600 gallons of fuel per hour or 23,000 gallons for a five-hour flight.
Several factors influence the amount of fuel burned by a passenger jet. The weight of the aircraft, including the number of passengers and cargo, plays a significant role. Longer flights generally require more fuel due to the weight penalty of carrying extra fuel. Additionally, the type of aircraft and its fuel efficiency affect fuel consumption, with turboprop planes being more efficient than jet planes.
Passenger jets have improved in fuel efficiency over the years. For example, a Boeing 747 achieves 100 miles to the gallon for every passenger, which is nearly twice as fuel-efficient as a car carrying one person. However, turboprop planes are even more efficient than jets, with some models accommodating up to 39 passengers and burning around 134.55 gallons of fuel per hour.
Passenger jets typically use kerosene-based jet fuel, which has a higher flash point and provides more power compared to gasoline. Military aircraft use specialized fuels like JP-8 and JP-5, which have additives for anti-icing and corrosion inhibition or a high flash point to reduce fire risks.
