Creative Thinking Pays Off
Hawaiian Air - Saving Money the Right Way
Many businesses are looking to save money by cutting in areas that will negativly impact their service level. We have all seen enough adding fees for food, checking bags, and anything else thay can think of to add revenue without appearing to raise ticket prices. These forms of not so subtle gouging have led to major dissatisfaction with the airline industry.
Clean Mo Bettah
Hawaiian Air has announced some creative, if not revolutionary changes that we as passengers will barely (if at all) notice.
For example, they will be power washing their jet engines more frequently, reducing the cruising speed on its long-haul flights, and towing planes to the airport runways instead of using the jet engines. Hawaiian said these fuel conservation efforts are expected to save about $4 million this year. While that’s a small portion of their revenue, it is still a lot of money.
Hawaiian reportedly spent $291.6 million on fuel last year, so some may call this just a “drop in the bucket.”
Cool Looking Too!
The airline announced two weeks ago that it plans to invest $10 million to purchase eight winglets for its long-haul aircraft, in a move that will save more than 2 million gallons of jet fuel each year. The 11-foot-tall fin-like attachments, which could be installed by September 2009, will pay for themselves in four years, the airline said.
They are ordering lighter seats at a cost of about $1.5 million, which they say will pay for themselves in less than two years.
The have also purchased portable air-conditioning units for the interisland gates to cool planes in between flights. These will be used instead of the plane’s internal AC system, which is powered by the aircraft’s engines.
“Those who know how to think need no teachers.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
