Mercedes Mullins
The aviation industry's consumption of jet fuel is a significant contributor to global energy usage. In 2019, the sector accounted for almost 8% of oil products consumed worldwide, or approximately 7.5 million barrels daily. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp decline in jet fuel consumption, with a gradual recovery since then. Commercial airlines' fuel consumption is projected to rise, and while the pandemic's impact on jet fuel usage will persist until 2026, demand is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by then. The US, the highest consumer among countries, averaged 1.5 million barrels per day in 2022, while the Faroe Islands recorded zero consumption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average jet fuel consumption in the US in 2022 | 1.5 million barrels per day |
| Jet fuel consumption in the US in 2019 | 1.7 million barrels per day |
| Jet fuel consumption in the US in 2023 | 1.65 million barrels per day |
| Average jet fuel consumption worldwide in 2022 | 29.34 thousand barrels per day |
| Jet fuel consumption by commercial airlines worldwide in 2019 | 95 billion gallons |
| Jet fuel consumption by commercial airlines worldwide in 2020 | 52 billion gallons |
| Jet fuel consumption by an Airbus A380 in an hour | 4,600 gallons |
| Jet fuel consumption by an Airbus A380 in a 5-hour flight | 23,000 gallons |
| Jet fuel consumption by a Boeing 747 in a second | 1 gallon |
| Jet fuel consumption by a Boeing 747 in a 5-hour flight | 18,000 gallons |
| Jet fuel consumption by a Boeing 787-9 in an hour | 2,700 gallons |
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What You'll Learn
Boeing 747s burn 1 gallon of fuel every second
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body, four-engine jet airliner that was introduced in 1969. With its large capacity and range, it quickly became the airliner of choice for international flights. While the 747 is a highly capable aircraft, it is also a fuel guzzler.
The fuel economy of the 747 is approximately 0.18 miles per gallon. This means that for every gallon of fuel burned, the aircraft can travel about 0.18 miles. To put this into perspective, that's equivalent to burning one gallon of fuel every three and a half minutes. As a result, the 747 requires a significant amount of fuel to operate, with a typical fuel capacity of around 48,400 gallons. This allows the aircraft to fly long-haul international routes, such as from New York to London, without refuelling.
However, the fuel burn rate can vary depending on various factors, including the weight of the aircraft, the speed at which it is flown, and the altitude at which it cruises. For example, the 747-8i Intercontinental, a variant of the 747 with a longer range, can carry up to 63,034 gallons of fuel. This additional fuel capacity enables the aircraft to operate on even longer routes, such as from Los Angeles to Sydney, without needing to stop for fuel.
The high fuel consumption of the 747 is a significant cost for airlines, especially when considering the current high fuel prices. However, it's important to note that the 747 is capable of carrying hundreds of passengers on long-haul routes, which helps to spread the fuel cost across many passengers. Nonetheless, with the advancements in aircraft technology, newer aircraft are being introduced with improved fuel efficiency, helping to reduce the overall jet fuel consumption in the industry.
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Jet fuel consumption in the US
Demand for jet fuel in the US has been recovering faster than in many other markets. By 2021, jet fuel consumption by military, government, and general aviation users had returned to pre-pandemic levels. In 2022, jet fuel consumption averaged 1.5 million barrels per day, compared to 1.7 million in 2019.
In 2023, jet fuel consumption in the US grew for the third consecutive year, averaging 1.65 million barrels per day, 5% below the pre-pandemic peak in 2019. However, jet fuel consumption by commercial carriers was still 8% lower than in 2019. The slower recovery in jet fuel consumption was attributed to labour supply constraints and high fuel prices.
While the number of airline passengers has increased, jet fuel consumption has remained relatively steady since July 2021. This may be due to airlines consolidating flights and ensuring full flights to manage high fuel prices and labour supply issues. Despite the recovery in passenger numbers, jet fuel inventories in the US remained tight in 2022, with inventories lower than the previous five-year average.
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Global fuel consumption by commercial airlines
The global aviation industry is a major consumer of jet fuel, with commercial airlines being the primary drivers of demand. In 2023, commercial operators used 348.75 billion litres of jet fuel, and the industry as a whole consumed an average of 29.34 thousand barrels per day. The United States is the largest consumer among all countries, with an average consumption of 1,559.71 thousand barrels per day in 2022. This figure dropped to 1.65 million barrels per day in 2023, which was 5% lower than the pre-pandemic peak in 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted jet fuel consumption, with commercial jet fuel usage dropping by 42% from 2019 to 2020. In 2023, commercial carriers consumed 8% less fuel than in 2019. However, the aviation industry is gradually recovering, and the number of passengers has been increasing. In 2023, 4.4 billion passengers were carried by airlines worldwide, and this number is estimated to reach 5 billion in 2024.
To optimise fuel efficiency and reduce operating costs, airlines are investing in future fleets and improving fuel economy. The average fuel economy of US commercial carriers in terms of available seat-miles per gallon increased to 65.5 seat-miles per gallon in 2023, up from 64.9 seat-miles per gallon in 2019. The latest generation of aircraft has also resulted in an up-to 75% noise reduction compared to the first jets.
The shift towards sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is also gaining momentum. SAF is blended with conventional kerosene to ensure compatibility, and it has been shown to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation fuel by up to 80%. As of early 2023, airlines had made around $45 billion in SAF purchase agreements, and production is expected to reach 2.1 million tonnes in 2025, accounting for 0.7% of airlines' total fuel consumption. The industry-proposed policies aim for 20 million tonnes of SAF uptake by 2030, with 50 airlines committing to SAF goals ranging from 5% to 30% of their total fuel usage.
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Fuel efficiency of newer airplanes
The fuel economy of aircraft is a measure of the transport energy efficiency of an aircraft. Fuel efficiency can be increased by improving aerodynamics, reducing weight, and improving engine brake-specific fuel consumption and propulsive efficiency or thrust-specific fuel consumption. For instance, the Airbus A350 design includes a majority of lightweight composite materials, reducing the weight of the aircraft. Additionally, the blended wing body (BWB) design, flight-tested by NASA and Boeing, provides greater fuel efficiency as the whole craft produces lift, not just the wings.
Newer aircraft are more fuel-efficient than older ones. Between 1967 and 2007, jet airliners became 70% more fuel-efficient, with a 40% improvement in engine efficiency and a 30% improvement in airframes. From 1968 to 2014, the average fuel burn of new aircraft fell by 45%, a compounded annual reduction of 1.3%. Newer aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A350, and Bombardier CSeries, are 20% more fuel-efficient per passenger kilometre than previous-generation aircraft.
According to aircraft OEMs, new-generation aircraft are "typically 15-20% more fuel-efficient than their predecessors". However, this level of efficiency can only be achieved under specific conditions, as fuel burn is affected by various factors such as block distance, taxi time, seating layouts, and the operating environment. Data from Cirium Global Aircraft Emissions Monitor shows that fuel efficiency improved by 10-13% on the Max fleet compared to the NG fleet for most airlines. On the Airbus side, fuel efficiency improved by 14-17% on the neo fleet compared to the ceo fleet for most airlines.
The increasing fuel efficiency of newer airplanes has contributed to the reduction in U.S. jet fuel consumption. In 2023, commercial carriers in the U.S. consumed 8% less fuel than in 2019. The average jet fuel consumption in the U.S. in 2022 was 1.5 million barrels per day, compared to an average of 1.7 million barrels per day in 2019. The highest jet fuel consumption by country in 2022 was in the U.S., with 1,559.71 thousand barrels per day, while the lowest was in the Faroe Islands, with 0 thousand barrels per day.
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Jet fuel consumption by country
Jet fuel demand is a complex issue due to the global nature of travel. For instance, if a European traveller going on a safari holiday refuels their plane in Johannesburg, that jet fuel demand will be counted under African jet fuel demand and not European. Thus, it is challenging to accurately determine jet fuel consumption per capita in a country.
In 2019, the global jet fuel demand was 8 million barrels per day (Mbpd) for 7.7 billion people, with an average of 900 air miles travelled per person and an average fuel economy of 54 passenger miles per gallon. The same year, the mean jet fuel demand in the developed world was 3,500 miles per person per year, while in emerging countries, it was 450 miles, and in low-income countries, it was 130 miles. These numbers are averages and do not necessarily reflect individual travel behaviours.
Jet fuel demand is projected to increase to 18Mbpd by 2050 as jet fuel demand per capita doubles to 2,000 miles per person per year. This rise in demand can be influenced by various factors, such as population growth, GDP per capita, travel miles per capita, and the fuel economy of passenger jets.
It is worth noting that a significant proportion of the world's population has never flown in an airplane. Estimates suggest that 80-95% of people worldwide have never been on a plane.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on several factors, including the type of aircraft, the number of passengers, the distance travelled, and the weather conditions. On average, a Boeing 747 burns 18,000 gallons of jet fuel during a 5-hour flight, which is about 1 gallon per second.
In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the average jet fuel consumption in the United States was 1.7 million barrels per day. Due to travel restrictions and reduced air travel during the pandemic, jet fuel consumption decreased significantly in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, the average daily jet fuel consumption in the US was 1.5 million barrels per day, and in 2023, it was 1.65 million barrels per day.
Daily jet fuel consumption can vary due to changes in air travel demand, airline operations, and fuel efficiency. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions led to a decrease in jet fuel consumption. Additionally, airlines may adjust their flight schedules and consolidate flights to optimize fuel usage and reduce costs.
The amount of jet fuel burned daily varies between different types of aircraft. For example, the Airbus A380, which is a large passenger aircraft, consumes about 4,600 gallons of fuel per hour, which is slightly more than the Boeing 747. Modern twin-engine aircraft, like the Airbus A350, are more fuel-efficient and consume about 38 lb of fuel per nautical mile.
Jet fuel consumption contributes significantly to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which have negative environmental impacts and are a major contributor to climate change. To address this issue, airlines are investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft and improving the fuel economy of their fleets.
