Here are the results of a recent research based on the prime question that bothers us all lately: how airlines minimize fuel consumption on airplanes

• One airline saved over 17 gallons/year per pound of weight per airplane after shedding inflight phones, ovens, excess potable water, and some galley equipment on an older fleet
• In removing seatback phones from its MD-80s and B737-400s, another airline shed 200 pounds per airplane, translating into 3,400+ gallons saved annually
• Alaska Airlines (ALK) indicated in March 2004 that removing just five magazines per aircraft could save $10,000 per year in fuel; also, the airline has reduced the weight of catering supplies
• Air Canada considered stripping primer and paint from its 767s to save 360 lbs. per plane
• JetBlue (JBLU) and US Airways (LCC) and others have moved toward a paperless cockpit
• By removing six seats, JetBlue reduced A320 weight by approximately 904 pounds
• Airlines have been able to remove ovens, trash compactors, or even entire galleys, due to the elimination of hot meals on selected flights; others are using lighter seats; they have also removed magazine racks and replaced hard cabin dividers with curtains
• AirTran ordered carbon fiber Recaro seats for its 737-700s to shave 19.4 pounds per row, resulting in estimated fuel savings of $2,000 per year per aircraft
• Alaska’s new beverage cart, at 20 lbs. lighter, could save $500,000 in annual fuel costs
• Some airlines flush lavatories during extended ground delays to minimize takeoff weight