SAS flies slower to save costs and emissions


Overdue.


SAS has reduced the cruising speed of its passenger jets to about 485 miles per hour from 516 mph. The test project, run by SAS’s Norwegian unit, has saved it an estimated $12 million in fuel since early 2006…

A 216 mile flight between Oslo and Bergen, Norway’s two largest cities, at “economy speed” saved 287 pounds of fuel and 890 pounds of carbon emissions. The entire journey lasts only three minutes longer, Midteide said.

A slightly longer flight between Oslo and Paris or London takes about 10 minutes longer than before.

To save more fuel, SAS taxies its planes to gates on one engine, turning off the other engines after landing, Midteide said. The same tactic is planned for taxing before take-off.

Of course, the “important” people who have to schedule meetings a tad later will be inconvenienced.

Posted: Thu - May 22, 2008 at 10:06 AM          

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