2 weeks Ago By John Pullen
Delta Air Lines has emerged from the pandemic as a winning company. The carrier, which is the world's largest airline based on revenue generated, has just announced yet another major milestone. Thanks to efficiency initiatives from across its operations, the carrier managed to save 45 million gallons of jet fuel.
This accomplishment comes with lower operating costs and a smaller environmental impact for Delta. This accomplishment has been reached thanks to a cross-functional team within Delta that found ways to reduce fuel usage during the airline's daily operations. Delta's milestone puts it ahead of its competitors, who have yet to accomplish the same efficiency goals they set for themselves.
With airlines falling under increasing scrutiny for their environmental impact, this initiative will position Delta to gain a more favorable reputation in the market. A variety of changes helped Delta reduce fuel burn by 1% According to Delta , the airline has saved 45 million gallons of fuel, which equates to a reduced fuel burn of 1%. While this may not seem like a large number, for a company so heavily dependent on jet fuel, this milestone marks a massive accomplishment for Delta.
In order to reach it, the airline had to look closely at a variety of elements of its daily operations. The airline looked to its onboard operations, finding ways to reduce the weight of aircraft to require less fuel. It also introduced technology capable of tracking auxiliary power Unit usage while aircraft were on the ground, allowing the carrier to find reduction strategies.
It also worked to optimize aircraft speed and routing, certify new landing procedures, and add drag-reduction features (like winglets) to its aircraft. This milestone would not have been possible without the help of the entire Delta team, as Delta's Carbon Council Director Jesse Miers explained. In the company's press release he explained: “65 percent of Delta people are in a position daily to directly contribute to our operational KPIs for reducing fuel usage, improving fuel efficiency and driving millions of dollars in cost savings each year that, in turn, contribute to profit sharing .
It’s a true team effort that adds up quickly.” Aircraft modifications played a big role in Delta's success One of the biggest places Delta looked to reduce fuel burn was on the actual aircraft itself. This included adding new features to existing aircraft and changing procedures to allow reduced drag on landing.
For example, Delta worked with Boeing to certify a reduced flap landing configuration. The aircraft is still widely used by Delta , and this change alone is expected to save 1,000,000 gallons of fuel per year. In addition to different landing configurations, Delta also continues to install improved winglets on many of its narrowbody aircraft.
This includes Boeing's "split scimitar" variant, which offers enhanced fuel reduction thanks to an additional part of the winglet that stretches downward from the end of the wing. Lightweight landing gear has also been installed on some of its aircraft, further reducing drag. These initiatives will be especially impactful on the airline's narrowbody fleet, which makes up the majority of its fleet.
While Delta is a global player, its domestic schedule is massive and robust. The airline's largest aircraft types in its fleet are as follows, according to planespotters.net : Aircraft Family Amount In Fleet Airbus A320 Family 310 Boeing 737 Family 240 Boeing 757 Family 112 The Boeing 737-900ER is scheduled to depart toward Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) on April 15.
Delta continues to succeed while budget airlines struggle Delta's recent success is not the only reason the airline has to celebrate. The Atlanta-based carrier has enjoyed record revenue and profits this year, fueled by a high demand for premium travel products and transatlantic services to Europe. With a network of strong hubs and a fleet of premium-heavy aircraft, the carrier has positioned itself to succeed in the post-COVID era.
Meanwhile, its low-cost rivals have continued to struggle, unable to cope with rising costs or capitalize on the industry's trend towards premium seating. Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy last year, and its almost-merger partner JetBlue continues to reshuffle its network. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines has abandoned its popular, customer-friendly policies in an effort to boost revenue.
With travel demanding softening, the outlook for air travel in the United States is uncertain. However, it seems Delta is committed to improving its operations and lessening its environmental impact..
