TRB Pubsindex
Text Size:

Title:

TRENDS IN ENERGY USE AND FUEL EFFICIENCY IN THE U.S. COMMERCIAL AIRLINE INDUSTRY

Accession Number:

00371345

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

Find a library where document is available


Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309033748

Abstract:

The relative contributions of four components of fuel-efficiency gain to total efficiency improvement in the U.S. commercial airline industry since the 1973 oil embargo are identified, and a determination is made as to whether the efficiency improvements after 1973 represent a change in behavior from past trends. Civil Aeronautics Board data are used. Total efficiency increases since 1973 are divided into four components of efficiency gain/load factor, mix, seating capacity, and technical and operating efficiency. The contribution of each component to the improvement of fuel efficiency is measured by estimating how much fuel would have been needed to deliver actual services in a particular year had the component under study been held at its 1973 level while the other components varied. The rise in load factors accounts for one-third of the efficiency gain from 1973 to 1980. The increase is due in part to deregulation of the industry. Seating capacity made the second largest contribution, followed by mix and technical and operating efficiency. To compare pre- and post-embargo trends, a trend of yearly seat miles per gallon for the pre-embargo period was derived and extrapolated into the post-1973 period. Actual seat miles per gallon does not rise above the historic trend until 1979. Industry behavior did not change its historic patterns until 1979. Apparently, that was the first time that fuel costs became a significant financial burden to the airlines. The industry response to the fuel price rise was hampered by the time lag involved in introducing new-model aircraft into the fleet. (Author)

Supplemental Notes:

Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Energy Conservation and Transportation Demand. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Monograph Accession #:

00380410

Report/Paper Numbers:

HS-035 242

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Smith, Joel B

Pagination:

pp 90-97

Publication Date:

1982

Serial:

Transportation Research Record

Issue Number: 870
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISSN: 0361-1981

Conference:

61st Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board

Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
Date: 1982-1-18 to 1982-1-22

ISBN:

0309033748

Media Type:

Print

Features:

Figures (5) ; References (1) ; Tables (2)

Uncontrolled Terms:

Old TRIS Terms:

Subject Areas:

Economics; Energy; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I10: Economics and Administration

Files:

HSL, TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Mar 31 1983 12:00AM

More Articles from this Serial Issue: