Qantas questions results of fuel efficiency report
Australian carrier Qantas rejected the results of a fuel efficiency industry report which put the airline last in the transpacific market.
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) report said Qantas was the least fuel efficient carrier of 20 major airlines operating between The US and Asia Pacific in 2016.
Hainan Airlines and All Nippon Airways came top with an average fuel efficiency of 36 passenger kilometres per litre of fuel, compared to Qantas with 22 passenger kilometres.
This is not a true reflection, Qantas says, as it generally operates larger aircraft and much longer routes.
"The reason Qantas ranks low in this study is chiefly because we use larger aircraft, fly very long distances and have premium cabins that naturally have fewer people on board," said Qantas’ head of fuel and environment Alan Milne.
"Our Sydney to Dallas route is one of the longest in the world, and ultra-long haul flights have a magnifying effect on fuel burn because you’re carrying a lot of weight [in fuel] at the start of the journey in order to make the distance.
"We are switching our 747s for more fuel efficient Dreamliners and we have several data-driven programmes in place to reduce fuel burn," he added.
The report said Hainan came out top as the vast majority of its transpacific flights are operated with fuel efficient Dreamliners.
"Overall, airlines with more fuel-efficient aircraft, less premium seating, and higher passenger and freight load factors operated more fuel-efficient flights."
Qantas also touted its two recent biofuel supply partnerships signed in the US and Australia.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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