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Low prices for the use of kerosene, hold back any development towards more sustainability

Aircraft manufacturers and airlines will only invest, when getting returns. The CORONA pandemic, its economic aftermath and the world’s efforts to curb CO2 emissions makes continued low prices for kerosene likely. Airlines and aircraft manufacturers will not invest in new airplanes without economic need. Politics must make the regulations, give guidance and stimulation for aviation to focus on fuel efficiency.

1. How much is the fuel?Fuel is not always the biggest cost for an airline. Continue reading “Low prices for the use of kerosene, hold back any development towards more sustainability”

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The price for kerosene defines the airliners that are built

Low prices for fuel and CO2 emissions make airlines focus on fuel-thirsty speeds

1. Airlines  always get what they wantAircrafts are designed around an airline’s business plan. Designers optimise an aircraft’s fuselage, it’s wings and engines to fly with a specific speed to gain an airline the highest profits. The higher it’s speed, the more fuel an aircraft consumes, but the lower are it’s other costs. Continue reading “The price for kerosene defines the airliners that are built”

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Aviation spoils tons of kerosene for small financial profits, nr. 4

Airlines balance the costs for fuel against costs for delays

EU air passenger rights in case of denied boarding, a delayed flight or a cancelled flight grant delayed passengers a compensation of up to € 600.-!

Pilots, flight attendants, passengers or luggage, generate extra costs when missing a connecting flight. Cheap fuel is spent for high speed flying to minimise any costs due to chronic airline delays.

To stay on top of the punctuality-rankings, airlines nudge pilot’s to depart not one minute late. Up to 50% of the flights are therefore flown high speed to catch up delays into congested European hubs.  2018 OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited, On-time performance for airlines and airports and Top 20 busiest routes.

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Aviation spoils tons of kerosene for small financial profits, nr. 3

How airlines spoil fuel in order to keep pilots off their payroll

Flights must be manned with 2 pilots. However, longer intercontinental flights must be manned with 3 or 4 pilots, because legal work and rest times regulations require pilots to have inflight-rest periods.

Many of such flights are just beyond these regulatory limits. Due to the low price for fuel, airlines prefer to fly these flights with maximum speed instead of employing another copilot.

5% to 10%, 3-15 tons, more fuel is regularly burned for such purposes. This practice is frequently used and increases fuel consumption per flight significantly. The lower the costs for fuel, the more likely, an airline will prefer to fly fuel-spoiling fast. 

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Aviation spoils tons of kerosene for small financial profits, nr. 1

Aviation spoils tons of kerosene for small financial profits by tanking excessive fuel

https://www.eurocontrol.int/publication/fuel-tankering-european-skies-economic-benefits-and-environmental-impact
https://www.eurocontrol.int/publication/fuel-tankering-european-skies-economic-benefits-and-environmental-impact

In order to get the cheapest fuel, big airlines buy much of their fuel in advance. This creates different prices at airports for each airline. Big airlines get usually the lowest prices at their home-bases. From there, airlines often fly their fuel over to other airports with higher prices. E.g. German Lufthansa flys it’s fuel from Munich to Amsterdam and the Dutch KLM flys it’s fuel from Amsterdam to Munich. Continue reading “Aviation spoils tons of kerosene for small financial profits, nr. 1”

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Revolutionary aircraft technologies are delayed

Aviation needs revolutionary technologies quickly to curb CO2 emissions. However, these get delayed by cheap kerosene

1. International Air Transport Association (IATA), the association of the world’s airlines, sees an urgent need for revolutionary new aircraft designs

https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/news/en/2019/07/airbus-conceptual-airliner-to-inspire-new-generation-engineers.html
https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/news/en/2019/07/airbus-conceptual-airliner-to-inspire-new-generation-engineers.html

„Each new generation of aircraft yields a typical 15% fuel efficiency improvement compared to the generation it replaces. This replacement occurs on average every 20 years, although smaller serial improvements and retrofits occur in the intervening period.”
IATA Technology Roadmap for Environmental Improvement Fact Sheet Continue reading “Revolutionary aircraft technologies are delayed”

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Alternatives for kerosene are delayed

Because kerosene can be used so cheaply, alternatives are neglected

1. Kerosene’s characteristics are unmatched.
It has the highest energy density (thrust to weight ratio) and chemical stability. It’s low freezing point allows efficient flights in cold air at high altitudes whilst it is very safe to use. A burning match doesn’t ignite a puddle of kerosene when it is thrown into.. Continue reading “Alternatives for kerosene are delayed”

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What is causing it?

Aviation’s continued exception of fuel-, emission- or value-added-tax is unfair

Grumpy you - happy aviation
Grumpy you – happy aviation

1. On international flights no tax is paid for the use of kerosene
This privilege was given to aviation in 1944 and is upheld until today. “The Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO) (Chicago 1944, Article 24) exempts air fuels …” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_fuel 

Aviation’s grandfather rights are outdated! Continue reading “What is causing it?”