A Sydney Morning Herald report says that airlines are taking drastic steps in their drive to save weight and cut fuel bills, which they list as the top challenge facing the industry, with in-flight magazines, knives and forks, as well as personal entertainment services being targeted for removal.
Airline executives in Cairo at a ceremony welcoming EgyptAir into the Star Alliance said the price of oil was having such an impact on earnings that they were trying “every means necessary” to save costs.
The chief executive of Singapore Airlines, Chew Choon Seng, said, fuel now comprised up to half of its total operating costs.
”We have been assessing the weight of magazines, knives and forks as well as including things like … minimising [the weight of] water we have on board,” he said.
Michael Whitaker, senior vice-president with United Airlines, said US carriers were struggling more than their European counterparts because of the weakening of the currency.
He said United had been taking out seats to reduce weight.
Dennis Tierney, from US Airways, said services would start to disappear from its domestic flights “including some of the in-flight entertainment features”.
But Mark Erwin, from Continental Airlines, said services would be the last thing to disappear from the carrier.
A Report by The Mole from The Sydney Morning Herald
