Airline Kaizen - Action, not Whining
My Way
News - Airlines slow down flights to save on fuel
I’m just thrilled anytime I see an example of an airline making a
process improvement (a “kaizen” if you will) instead of their usual
game plan of whining, slashing employee pay, or cutting
corners.
Drivers have long known
that slowing down on the highway means getting more miles to the
gallon. Now airlines are trying it, too - adding a few minutes to
flights to save millions on fuel.Southwest Airlines
started flying slower about two months ago, and projects it will
save $42 million in fuel this year by extending each flight by one
to three minutes.On one Northwest
Airlines flight from Paris to Minneapolis earlier this week alone,
flying slower saved 162 gallons of fuel, saving the airline $535.
It added eight minutes to the flight, extending it to eight hours,
58 minutes.That meant flying at an
average speed of 532 mph, down from the usual 542
mph.
This is a simple kaizen we can ALL apply. Instead of just whining
about high gas prices, drive slower, ease up on the “rabbit
starts,” and keep your tires at the proper air pressure. To learn
more about mileage improvement tips, click here.
