BA wants to cut amount of emergency fuel on flights

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BA wants to cut amount of emergency fuel on flights

Keith Harper, transport editor Tuesday September 5, 2000

British Airways last night confirmed that it is seeking permission to reduce the amount of contingency fuel carried by its fleet. But the company rejected suggestions from pilots that the plan was in response to escalating fuel prices, which could cost BA an extra #200m this year on top of mounting losses. The application to the civil aviation authority comes as it has emerged that some airlines may be flying into British airports with less than their required fuel capacity.

Earlier this year, a Malaysian Airlines plane landed at Heathrow with near empty fuel tanks. After complaints, the Malaysians assured the British government that such a potentially dangerous situation would not occur again.

BA said that their application was "an attempt to take advantage of sophisticated flight planning" which is already in use by KLM, the Dutch carrier, and Lufthansa, the German airline. They work out the amount of contingency fuel needed for every flight. It rejected the suggestion that it was a move to carry less fuel, because in some cases, it might end up carrying more.

The BA application applies only on certain routes, such as London to Tokyo, which are mainly over areas where there are well-defined alternative landing sites. CAA safety and technical experts must vet the proposal before permission can be given.

At present, British planes must land with at least 3% of their fuel load in their tank and with 30 minutes supply to allow for stacking and diversion to another airport.

BA said that it was applying for the general principle on contingency fuel to be recognised. It said that if it received permission it would carry out three months tests on the routes involved.

Jet fuel prices are now at figures not seen since Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Analysts say that passengers will eventually face higher fares or, in the case of US airlines, fuel surcharges on some routes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,364634,00.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 04, 2000


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