Ease back on the throttle, cash-strapped airlines tell pilots

Airlines are ordering pilots to slow down in a bid to cut fuel bills and reduce emissions. The cost of jet fuel has soared by more than 70 per cent in the past year, prompting airlines to investigate every possible way of reducing their bills.

Southwest Airlines of the US says it will save $42m this year by cutting flight speeds, while Belgium’s Brussels Airlines anticipates a €1.1m saving. The savings can, they say, be achieved with very small reductions in speed. Northwest Airlines calculates that by flying from Paris to Minneapolis at an average speed of 532mph instead of 542mph, it can save 162 gallons of fuel, but add just eight minutes to the flight. Brussels Airlines says its flights will be lengthened by a maximum of two minutes.
Guardian