Airlines consider weighing passengers to conserve fuel Posted on 9 September 2019 Tags:Air Travel, carbon emissions, weight A UK startup is encouraging airlines to consider weighing passengers as a way to manage fuel expenditure to cut costs and lower carbon emissions. According to MSN, Fuel Matrix is proposing that airlines weigh individual passengers to calculate flight fuel requirements to reduce fuel wastage. The current formula for calculating fuel usage is based on an estimated gender-weight ratio for passengers. This considers the average weight of men, women and children and calculates the overall weight based on the number of each on board. Fuel Matrix, the company proposing this system, said that airlines burn 0.3-0.5% more fuel due to the extra weight of carrying extra, unnecessary fuel. By reducing the cost, carriers could save as much as $1.35 billion (nearly R20 billion). The company proposes that airlines take measurements discreetly, using pressure pads at baggage drop-off points, and that the information remains confidential. “Our patented technologies are relevant to both airports and airlines in reducing fuel burn, CO2 emissions and carbon footprints,” Fuel Matrix COO Nick Brasier told The Sun. The company is apparently in negotiations with “several long-haul airlines” in the UK about the possible implementation. Similar interventions have been discussed or implemented by other airlines in the past. In 2015, Uzbekistan Airways said it would weigh passengers and exclude some overweight people from busy flights or smaller planes if a weight limit was exceeded. In 2017, Finnair launched a voluntary weighing study to help determine the fuel requirements of its flights. Image source: Pixabay Related Posts Photo competition finalists: The best of February 2020 8 March 2021 Our 2020/2021 Photo Competition is still open with fantastic travel and equipment prizes up for... read more Western Cape launches campaign to attract remote workers with Airbnb 4 March 2021 Western Cape Government and Wesgro, in partnership with Airbnb, launched a site to promote remote... read more Home Affairs resumes all passport services 4 March 2021 The Department of Home Affairs will from Thursday, March 4 once again offer several services... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
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