Filling up the plane's tank...

Since fuel is really cheap in certain parts of the world, like
Venzuela or UAE, wouldn't it make sense for a US airline to have long
distance routes to those places? They could then fill up the tank
really cheaply, at least on one end of the journey.

(AE Todd) wrote in
:

Since fuel is really cheap in certain parts of the world, like
Venzuela or UAE, wouldn't it make sense for a US airline to have
long distance routes to those places?

Not if nobody wants to go there.

--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN |

"AE Todd" wrote in message
...
Since fuel is really cheap in certain parts of the world, like
Venzuela or UAE, wouldn't it make sense for a US airline to have long
distance routes to those places? They could then fill up the tank
really cheaply, at least on one end of the journey.

Much of the "cheap" fuel would be used flying back to the US. The amount
left over would not be enormous. Furthermore, "tankering" (which is what
the practice is called) makes the aircraft heavier than it needs to be (fuel
for aircraft is sold by weight not volume) which means it uses more fuel for
a given flight leaving even less for onward operation. You also have to be
careful not to overload the aircraft for the landing - an aircraft has a
maximum take off weight but a noticeable lower maximum landing weight.
Despite all that airlines DO tanker.

A couple of years ago the main terminal providing fuel to London Heathrow
burned. The airlines were forced to tanker fuel into Heathrow because
otherwise there would not have been enough fuel to operate out. Even so,
some flights were cancelled or had to make a fuel stop en route.

I wasn't suggesting tankering, but really just running flights with
regular fillups to places with cheap fuel. The airline buys expensive
fuel here for the trip to that country, but then gets to buy cheap
fuel for the return. Maybe the cheaper fuel would make that flight
more cost effective, and the airline could promote tourism to that
country to fill up the flight.

Interesting.........I think it would be easier for them to send a oil
tanker ship......and ship the cheap fuel back to the states.

----
http://www.moviesitearchive.com/travel

On Jun 30, 8:57*am, AE Todd wrote:
Since fuel is really cheap in certain parts of the world, like
Venzuela or UAE, wouldn't it make sense for a US airline to have long
distance routes to those places? *They could then fill up the tank
really cheaply, at least on one end of the journey.

On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:57:26 -0700 (PDT), jessica_smith_nyc
wrote:

Interesting.........I think it would be easier for them to send a oil
tanker ship......and ship the cheap fuel back to the states.

Yeah brilliant. Start sending planes empty because there is no demand
to be filled by these airlines to places that sell fuel more cheaply
because they are gouging everyone else to give them even more money.
What a plan!!


----
http://www.moviesitearchive.com/travel

On Jun 30, 8:57=A0am, AE Todd wrote:
Since fuel is really cheap in certain parts of the world, like
Venzuela or UAE, wouldn't it make sense for a US airline to have long
distance routes to those places? =A0They could then fill up the tank
really cheaply, at least on one end of the journey.

"AE Todd" wrote in message
...
I wasn't suggesting tankering, but really just running flights with
regular fillups to places with cheap fuel. The airline buys expensive
fuel here for the trip to that country, but then gets to buy cheap
fuel for the return. Maybe the cheaper fuel would make that flight
more cost effective, and the airline could promote tourism to that
country to fill up the flight.

Been to Venezuela? Not much of a tourist haven, especially for
norteamericanos.

On our return cruise from Hawaii to San Diego, R.C.I. made a stop in
Ensenada Mexico just to fuel up. Americans are now going to Tijuana to
purchase gas, so I am assuming the cruise line saves $$ in filling up
there.

"Carol Eskra" wrote in message
...
On our return cruise from Hawaii to San Diego, R.C.I. made a stop in
Ensenada Mexico just to fuel up. Americans are now going to Tijuana to
purchase gas, so I am assuming the cruise line saves $$ in filling up
there.

Much more easily done with a form of transportation based on leisure &
luxury. Passengers don't mind a short stop.

Try explaining an additional stop to a hundred people who are stuffed into
an aluminum tube. Not to mention being a bit out of the way, on a flight
from Portland to NY.

"Carol Eskra" wrote in message
...
On our return cruise from Hawaii to San Diego, R.C.I. made a stop in
Ensenada Mexico just to fuel up. Americans are now going to Tijuana to
purchase gas, so I am assuming the cruise line saves $$ in filling up
there.


Whether or not they bunker fuel oil in Ensenada is secondary. The "Jones
Act" prohibits non U.S. flag carriers from traveling directly between U.S.
ports - it is the same law that prevents foreign flag airlines from flying
between U.S. cities. Royal Caribbean's ships are all registered outside of
the United States so they have to stop at a non U.S. port. Ensenada is just
the closest one to San Diego or Los Angeles. If diesel is cheaper there,
they may well fill up, but that's not the reason for the stop.

Jeff