Airline Fuel Costs Mount

The airlines are huge users of fuel. Fuel costs are higher than even the cost of the aircraft. Surcharges are up to the highest point in the history of the airlines along with the fuel costs at an all time record cost. Airline tickets and airlines live and die on their ability to number one fill up planes and number two, manage their fuel costs. Discount Airlines have been able to keep flights full in order to order to cover costs and keep prices low, but are hurt in quarterly earnings every time fuel prices increase.

When fuel prices stay high, you often see massive downward spirals and negative sector rotations in Airline Stocks. Again it is all about the cost and flow of fuel. It is of interest when we hear talk of our National Debt and how important that is. "A Nation is not in danger of financial disaster merely because it owes itself money." The flow of fuel is several times more important than that, because with proper flow and economies of scale, every thing works better and every one wins. Consumers have lower prices and more choices; governments have greater tax revenues due to more commerce and more jobs paying into the system; industry has higher profits and more money to expand; the stock market moves upward provided greater benefits for those who bet on a strong America and therefore greater investment in new companies which provide innovation and research and development to improve the flow of every thing we know. Speaking of the benefits of the flow of fuel to government in the tax revenues, just think of all the fuel the government uses at all levels? Incredible amounts at every level; so incredible that they along with private enterprise spend millions of dollars trying to figure out more efficient methods. The military uses so much fuel it has it's own reserves and oil fields and contracted out refineries. It has about enough supply for the entire country for 60-90 days depending on our conservation levels in a crisis situation. Fighting a war takes a tremendous amount of fuel. The modern Aircraft carriers use nuclear power, like the submarines, but the rest of the world's greatest arsenal uses fuel of various types. And they are always testing different fuels to increase performance in different situations.

These reserves have been used when OPEC plays hardball creating fuel prices above our ability to operate our industries and businesses and keep America employed and the wheels of commerce turning. Opening up the floodgate of supply, lowers the prices and puts the cartel in check. If not certain businesses become un-viable when fuel prices go too high. Think of the military aviation, jets, helicopters, UAVs, AWACs, bombers and even flying gas stations in the sky for aerial re-fueling. It is like running several airlines non-stop 24/7. Generally Airlines too are a 24-hour business. The airline industry is under extreme pressure now.

If they keep raising their fees to passengers then the passenger per plane ratios drop off, meaning flight are unprofitable. If they do not raise the price then they lose money. It is a no win situation and they need some fuel price stabilization, yet an already hampered industry is facing additional crisis from fuel costs. We have seen already four major airlines file bankruptcy and two out of business, two more are facing bankruptcy and several are considered bad risks from ever emerging from their bankruptcies. The flow and costs of fuel are critical to the airline industry and the future of air travel in the World.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

More Resources

How Cheap Can You Get? Try Online for Cheap Air Tickets
Most consumers feel the airline travel is very costly. We can end up spending a fortune when we add up the various costs, such as flights, accommodation, taxes and insurance, hotel services and car hire.
De Ice Boots Preventative Care
If you have de-ice boots on your aircraft you realize that for them to last you will need to keep them in new condition. In days gone buy aviators and aircraft mechanics have used all sorts of things to keep them in mint condition.
A Look at Fractional Jet Ownership
We've all experienced it - the commercial flight. After a mad dash to make it to the airport on time, including the hours allotted for getting through security, where you'll have to take off your shoes, empty your pockets, and prove that your laptop is not a bomb, you sit and wait for a couple hours before they decide to start boarding, and give you the privilege of sitting in the cramped seat that you paid a couple hundred dollars for.
Helicopters Outfitted With Airbags
You know those airbags in your car? Did you know they are very similar in nature to the airbags deployment system used to crash land the Mars rover on the surface of Mars? Did you know that one company is making external airbags for helicopters and rotorcraft? It's all true. There are critical altitudes for helicopters incase of engine failure, altitudes that if the engine quits the helicopter will come crashing to the ground.
Leading Private Jet Charter Operators
Flying with the airlines can be a time consuming as well as risky proposition for businessmen as well as for people of wealth. If you absolutely, positively must get somewhere fast you are putting your trust in a system that is overcrowded, inconvenient, and failing when you fly with the airlines.
17 Ways to Keep Safe and Secure When Flying
Here are 17 ways to keep safe and secure when flying domestic or abroad. Air travelers need to keep a sharp eye and an ever present focus on what's going on around them.
Several Facts to Obtaining Cheap Airfares
AirfaresNeed a vacation but dont want to stay around town? Want to go somewhere exotic, somewhere different? Want to fly but worried about the airfare? Sourcing the cheapest airfare available has been made easier with competition growing between travel agencies as people realize that a vacation need not be all that expensive. Airfare can be a hindrance to the best of vacation plans but it need not be.
Concorde Crash Conspiracy - It Could Have Been Prevented
In studying the Concorde crash the investigators determined it was caused by debris on the runway, which had fallen off a Continental Airlines Aircraft, which went down the same runway prior to the Concorde. Some thought the crash was an International Terrorist Attack.
Inflatable Aircraft Wing Camber Modification
Every aircraft is a compromise. It is either built to fly fast or slow to land in tight distances and carry more weight.
Future Shuttle Launches
The military aircraft we have are all equipped with anti-SAM systems. These prevent SAMs, Surface-to-air-missiles, which are heat seeking from hitting the aircraft.
New Airbus A-380 Beats Out 747
The A-380 has beat out the Boeing 747 as a target by International Terrorists. The A-380 will become the largest passenger jet in the world holding the largest number of passengers.
Jet Lag - 5 Pre-travel Steps to Reduce the Effects of Jet Lag
Ask any regular long-haul flyer about their experience of flying and you will soon discover that everyone has a different "magic" formula for overcoming or avoiding jet lag.In reality of course no magic formula exists - and there is certainly no magic pill or tablet.
Is your air traffic control person real?
Have you ever been flying around in your private plane and the control tower or approach control has sent you on a vector or asked you to do something, which made no sense at all? But of course you did it anyway, because they are in charge right? You might have thought to yourself; "Is this guy for real?" "Is this guy in some kind of dreamland, asleep up there?" Well in the future such questions may not be too far off actually. For instance your air traffic control tower professional maybe in augmented reality, sitting in a room with no windows looking at your aircraft on a TV screen or video monitor.
Automated Following Jump System for Paratroopers, AFJS
There are many problems of safety in paratrooper drops. Many times night jumps are done or drops are made into the battlespace under low visibility.
Do Jet Lag Diets Work?
Anti jet lag diets have been around for some time now, but do they work?Perhaps the best know anti jet lag diet is the Argonne Diet, developed at the Argonne National Laboratory in 1982. Over the years thousands of people have downloaded copies of this diet online and it is reputed to have been used by an impressive list of people including the late President Ronald Regan, the US Secret Service, the CIA and the US Army and Navy.
AWACS Automated Flight Following System for Nuke Bunker Buster Accuracy
The Aerial Fire Fighting Industry uses a system called AFF Automated Flight Following System. It works from a satellite.
Entering Business Aviation, Part V: Tips on Finding Work
I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic to write about. In fact, my knowledge of how one finds work as a private flight attendant is based chiefly on what others have shared with me.
Airline Security; Stewardesses The Last Line Of Defense!
Introduction:It might come as a chock to many people, including the Stewardesses, but the fact remains that in today's Airline Industry, the Stewardess is the last line of defense!In the 11th of September terrorist attacks, on the WTC and Pentagon, the first victims were the Stewardesses. Savagely attacked by the terrorist on their way to the cockpit's and tortured to pressure pilots, to comply with the terrorists demands.
Sport Aviation and Jet Aircraft
Do you want a little business jet with a lot of power? Well hold on, as we are almost here. There are many new little Biz Jets about to come to the market place.
Aerodynamic Inflatable Wing Gates for STOL
Low speed flight characteristic are crucial to safety. Those aircraft that have good flight characteristics at low speeds are favored by pilots and the companies, military, NGO or private individuals who operate them.

More Aviation Information:

Related Articles

Inflatable Slots for STOL
Short Take Off and Landing Aircraft are extremely valuable in commercial, private, government and military aviation. It is important for safety and for performance.
Flying Blimp Walrus Could Have Assisted in Evacuations
What is a Walrus Super Blimp? It is a giant heavy lift Blimp being evaluated by the United States Department of Defense's special research division; DARPA. What is DARPA? Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Material Memory and NASA High Tech Plastics for Rotor Blades
Some new materials, types of plastics seem to be stronger than steel by quite a bit. Since they are made of polymer plastic blends it will be possible to add in some material memory manufacturing in the process.
Tips to Finding Really Cheap Airline Tickets
Finding really cheap airline tickets onlineLooking for a really good deal on flights? Here are some of the best strategies used to find really cheap airline tickets online.1) Really Cheap Airline Tickets: Last minute flightsOften you'll find really cheap airline tickets posted at the last minute.
First Class Airfare: How the Rich Travel
Have you ever wondered what all entails first class airfare, but never knew where to look? First class airfare can cost up to 15 times more than the regular fares for the same trip. So what do travelers living the high life actually get for these super inflated prices? Well, a lot.
Automated Satellite Following System for UAV Swarms
Much work is being done and the USAF has implemented systems to fly UAVs Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in ah hoc formations like swarms of insects or flock of birds. We cannot quite match evolution and bird flock formations but we are on our way.
Tactile Strip Sensors on Leading Edge of Material Memory Airfoils
Aircraft designers have always tried to figure out the best compromise for the aircraft they build, trying to get maximum performance at both high and low airspeeds. Now with material memory components they will be able to do this.
Flying With Your Dog
A pet owner must research the many requirements before taking a dog on an airplane. Different airlines have slightly different regulations, but most airlines follow the same basic set of rules in regards to flying with a dog.
The History of the Aircraft Wash Guys, Part Three
As we study this grass roots history of a franchise company in the making we see how opportunity in the market grows companies and how entrepreneurial thinkers take advantage of those opportunities to deliver goods and services, which match the desires of the market place. In this review of the history of the aircraft wash guys we see the company diversifying and finding other niches to serve, some of which were actually better than the original plan.
Several Facts to Obtaining Cheap Airfares
AirfaresNeed a vacation but dont want to stay around town? Want to go somewhere exotic, somewhere different? Want to fly but worried about the airfare? Sourcing the cheapest airfare available has been made easier with competition growing between travel agencies as people realize that a vacation need not be all that expensive. Airfare can be a hindrance to the best of vacation plans but it need not be.
How to Get a Free Airline Upgrade on Your Flight
Everyone wants to buy a cheap economy ticket and get bumped up to business or first class. I mean who doesn't want more comfort, more legroom, better service and lounge access? The new generation of flat seats makes flying long-haul more comfortable than ever before.
Young Men Trying to Imitate the 9-11 Scenario, Part II
What happened to General Aviation after 9-11? Why did we take the ITC away in the late 80's? Why were we hostile with IRS regulations toward Civil Air Patrol pilot owners? What else did this cause and why is it significant to this Part II of aviation mentor-ships for young men? We continue now with Part II of "Young Men trying to imitate the 9-11 Scenario."Wichita KS boomed due to the Ivestment Tax Credit regulations and the city had lots of population to draw from for mechanics, since so many people worked in the aviation factories.
Airline Fuel Costs Mount
The airlines are huge users of fuel. Fuel costs are higher than even the cost of the aircraft.
What Causes Jet Lag?
Jet lag is a common sleep disorder suffered by many millions of travelers every day, whether traveling on business or for pleasure. In one recent survey of international business travelers, seventy four percent of those questioned said that they suffered frequently from jet lag.
5 Tips for Stress Free Long Haul Flights
The world is becoming smaller by the day. Flying long haul to distant locations for business or pleasure is becoming increasingly more popular.
Cheap Airline Tickets! With Internet Access, The Skies The Limit For Great Deals
With easy access to the Internet, the convenience of finding cheap airline tickets is just a few clicks away. As more airline inventory becomes available directly to the public through the World Wide Web, cheap flights are being purchased in record numbers, and nearly everyone hunting for fantastic low cost airline tickets are finding better deals online, than offered at their local travel agency!If you happen to be wondering why your local travel agency seems to have a hard time competing with all the cheap tickets offered by online travel suppliers, well its a matter of volume.
17 Ways to Keep Safe and Secure When Flying
Here are 17 ways to keep safe and secure when flying domestic or abroad. Air travelers need to keep a sharp eye and an ever present focus on what's going on around them.
Boeing is Really Flying Now
The Boeing Company has completely blown past projections for aircraft sales this month. Before the Annual Paris Air Show the Boeing Company had already made three deals for commercial aircraft of worth over 5 Billion in sales.
Entering Business Aviation, Part II: Pay Rates for Flight Attendants
Pay. You know that aviation pays better than commercial, in most cases a lot better, but you aren't sure what the going rate is for a corporate flight attendant.
A Look at Fractional Jet Ownership
We've all experienced it - the commercial flight. After a mad dash to make it to the airport on time, including the hours allotted for getting through security, where you'll have to take off your shoes, empty your pockets, and prove that your laptop is not a bomb, you sit and wait for a couple hours before they decide to start boarding, and give you the privilege of sitting in the cramped seat that you paid a couple hundred dollars for.