Rajan Wilcox
The amount of fuel used by the average commercial airliner is influenced by several factors, including the aircraft's type and size, flight duration, empty weight, payload, engine efficiency, flight path, and weather conditions. While take-off is often considered the most fuel-intensive stage of a flight, cruising can account for a significant proportion of total fuel consumption, especially on longer flights. Fuel efficiency in aircraft has improved over the years, with new aircraft models exhibiting better aerodynamics and reduced weight, contributing to a decrease in average fuel burn. Additionally, airlines are exploring sustainable alternatives and operational adjustments to optimize fuel usage and reduce emissions.
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What You'll Learn
Fuel efficiency
The efficiency of an airline depends on various factors such as fleet fuel burn, seating density, air cargo, and passenger load factor. Operational procedures like maintenance and routing can also contribute to fuel savings. For example, Airbus believes that aircraft can save 5-10% of fuel by flying in formation, utilising wake updraft like migrating birds. This concept, known as biomimicry, has shown promising results in test flights.
The type and size of aircraft play a significant role in fuel consumption. Larger aircraft like the Airbus A380 can carry more passengers, resulting in increased fuel efficiency per passenger. The A380 can carry over 800 passengers and burns around 4,600 gallons of fuel per hour. In comparison, the Boeing 747-400 burns approximately 10-11 tons of fuel per hour and typically carries 568 passengers.
Fuel burn per kilometre is another critical factor in fuel efficiency. The A321neo, one of the newest aircraft, uses an average of 2.7 litres of fuel per kilometre. However, it's important to note that fuel burn per kilometre doesn't reflect aircraft size and capacity. Shorter flights using a Boeing 737-800 burn about 2.5-3 tons of fuel per hour.
Over the years, aircraft fuel efficiency has improved significantly. From 1968 to 2014, the average fuel burn of new aircraft decreased by 45%, translating to a compounded annual reduction of 1.3%. This improvement in fuel efficiency has positively impacted CO₂ emissions. In 2018, CO₂ emissions from passenger transport totalled 747 million tonnes for 8.5 trillion revenue passenger kilometres, resulting in an average of 88 grams of CO₂ per revenue passenger kilometre.
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Fuel burn
The fuel burn of new aircraft has decreased significantly over time. Between 1968 and 2014, the average fuel burn of new aircraft fell by 45%, a compounded annual reduction of 1.3% with a variable reduction rate. This trend of improved fuel efficiency is also reflected in the changing fuel consumption rates of specific aircraft models. For example, the Airbus A321neo, one of the newest aircraft, uses an average of 2.7 litres of fuel per kilometre. In contrast, the Airbus A380, the current reigning champ for the world's largest jet airliner, burns an average of 4,600 gallons (11,400 litres) of fuel per hour.
The fuel burn of an aircraft also varies depending on the stage of the flight. The OAG model breaks down fuel burn into six flight stages: taxi out, take-off, climb, cruise, approach, and taxi in. While take-off may be the most intense point of a flight in terms of fuel consumption, it contributes a relatively small fraction to the total fuel burn. The shortest flights have a higher proportion of fuel burn for non-cruising activities, with taxiing accounting for 2% to 17% of total fuel burn. In contrast, longer flights, such as the London Heathrow to Hong Kong route operated by Cathay Pacific using an Airbus A350, burn most of their fuel during the cruise stage, accounting for up to 96% of total fuel burn.
The fuel efficiency of an airline also depends on factors beyond the aircraft's performance. These include seating density, air cargo, passenger load factor, and operational procedures like maintenance and routing. Airlines with higher seating densities and efficient cargo and passenger load factors can improve their fuel efficiency. Additionally, airlines can implement procedures such as utilizing tugs for taxiing instead of burning fuel, optimizing routing, and maintaining aircraft to reduce fuel burn and associated costs.
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Fuel costs
For example, a Boeing 747-400 burns around 10-11 tons (approximately 22,000-24,000 pounds) of jet fuel per hour, while a shorter flight using a Boeing 737-800 would use about 2.5-3 tons (5,500-6,600 pounds) per hour. The Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft, consumes about 4,600 gallons of fuel per hour, burning slightly more fuel than the Boeing 747 due to its higher capacity.
The fuel efficiency of aircraft has been improving over time. The average fuel burn of new aircraft fell by 45% from 1968 to 2014, a compounded annual reduction of 1.3%. In 2018, the average fuel consumption per passenger in Europe was 3.4 L/100 km, a 24% improvement since 2005.
To reduce fuel costs, airlines can focus on improving aerodynamics, reducing weight, and enhancing engine efficiency. Additionally, operational procedures such as maintenance and routing can contribute to fuel savings.
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Carbon emissions
The fuel efficiency of aircraft has improved over the years due to advancements in aerodynamics, weight reduction, and improved engine technology. For example, the average fuel burn of new aircraft fell by 45% from 1968 to 2014, resulting in lower carbon emissions. However, the growth in air traffic has led to an overall increase in CO₂ emissions. In 2017, CO₂ emissions from European airlines increased by 16% compared to 2005, despite a 24% reduction in average fuel consumption per passenger.
The fuel efficiency and carbon emissions vary across different aircraft models. For instance, the Airbus A380, one of the largest passenger aircraft, consumes approximately 4,600 gallons of fuel per hour, while the Boeing 747 burns up to one gallon of fuel per second during a flight. The Boeing 737-800, used for shorter flights, consumes about 2.5-3 tons of fuel per hour. The Airbus A320 and A321neo are more fuel-efficient, with the latter using an average of 2.7 litres of fuel per kilometre.
To reduce carbon emissions, airlines and aircraft manufacturers are exploring various strategies. Airbus has patented aircraft designs with twin rear-mounted counter-rotating propfans, which offer improved engine efficiency. Boeing has also introduced more fuel-efficient twin jets compared to quadjets. Additionally, operational procedures such as maintenance, routing, and the use of electric motors for ground movements can contribute to fuel savings and reduced carbon emissions.
Carbon offsetting has also gained prominence as a way for airlines and passengers to compensate for carbon emissions. Organisations like OAG have developed models and databases to calculate carbon offsetting requirements, enabling informed decisions for greener travel choices and ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) considerations.
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Jet fuel vs diesel
The average fuel burn of new aircraft fell by 45% from 1968 to 2014, with a compounded annual reduction of 1.3%. In 2018, CO2 emissions from passenger transport totalled 747 million tonnes, resulting in an average of 88 grams of CO2 emitted per kilometre. This equates to 28 grams of fuel burned per kilometre, or a fuel consumption of 3.5 litres per 100 kilometres per passenger.
The fuel economy of an aircraft is influenced by various factors, including aerodynamics, weight, engine brake-specific fuel consumption, and propulsive efficiency. Additionally, the efficiency of an airline depends on factors such as fleet fuel burn, seating density, air cargo, and passenger load factor.
Now, let's delve into the comparison of jet fuel and diesel:
Jet fuel and diesel have more similarities than one might expect, historically sharing similarities in extraction, production, composition, and application. However, there are also significant differences between the two fuels. Jet fuel typically has a high sulfur content, while diesel fuel has a low sulfur content. Jet fuel is often kerosene-based, with types such as Jet A and Jet A-1 being colorless, easily combustible, and kerosene-based. Jet fuel is designed for turbine engines in aircraft, while diesel fuel is designed for engines specifically built to run on diesel, typically piston engines.
In terms of lubricity, jet fuel, particularly Jet-A, is considered "dry" compared to diesel fuel. Jet fuel's lubricity is suitable for gas-turbine engines, while diesel engines often require lubricity additives to ensure proper long-term functionality. Additionally, jet fuel has a higher flash point, making it safer to handle in large quantities.
Despite their differences, there are cases where diesel fuel is used in gas-turbine engines, and jet fuel is used in diesel engines. For example, at airfields and airports, jet fuel is sometimes used in ground-support fleets, powering both aircraft fuel systems and diesel vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
The amount of fuel used by a commercial airliner depends on various factors, including the aircraft type, flight duration, empty weight, payload, engine efficiency, flight path, and weather conditions. For instance, a Boeing 747 burns around 10-11 tons of jet fuel per hour, while a Boeing 737-800 uses about 2.5-3 tons per hour. The Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft, consumes around 4,600 gallons of fuel per hour.
Fuel efficiency in aircraft is influenced by aerodynamics, weight, engine brake-specific fuel consumption, and propulsive efficiency. Endurance and range can be improved by maintaining an optimum airspeed and altitude. Additionally, operational procedures like maintenance and routing can contribute to fuel savings.
Fuel costs can account for 25-40% of an airline's operating expenses, significantly impacting ticket prices. Airlines aim to optimise their fuel efficiency and explore sustainable alternatives to reduce expenses and address environmental concerns. From a passenger perspective, the number of passengers on a flight can influence the perceived fuel efficiency, with higher occupancy leading to better efficiency per person.
