Air India fuel-efficiency push saves $9M

State-owned and Mumbai-based Air India said it has enacted strict fuel-efficiency measures that are expected to reduce annual fuel use by 4.56 crore kiloliters (12 billion U.S. gallons).

In six months of the fuel-savings measures, Air India said it has already saved Rs 46.11 crore ($9.26 million) by changes that include:

• flying techniques such as flying in a straight line while at optimal altitudes and speeds.
• reduced fuel use on the ground by employing just one engine when taxiing, by towing aircraft as much as possible, and by providing pre-flight power from on-ground sources.
• decreasing the weight of the aircraft by reducing the water used by the plane, the weight of food carts, and the weight of magazines in seat-back pockets.
• cutting contingency fuel from 5 percent to 3 percent.

The savings were verified by the International Air Transport Association.

Air India expects to use a new flight plan system that could provide further benefits. The airline estimated a potential Rs 80 crore ($16 million) annual fuel savings.

India has the fastest-growing passenger load in the world, but air traffic has declined as rising fuel costs have led to higher fares, putting the pressure on airlines to reduce fuel costs. Air India is the 16th-largest airline in Asia and third-largest in India, with about 4 million annual passengers.

The cost-cutting measures have the added benefit of cutting projections for carbon dioxide emissions by 14.55 crore kilograms (160,400 tons) for the year, Air India said.

Other airlines around the world are putting their efforts into incorporating biofuels to reduce their carbon footprints (see Game-changing day for jet biofuels and Japan Airlines completes camelina biodiesel flight).