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This 1998 AGIFORS presentation details how Lan Chile optimized long-haul operations by strategically balancing fuel, cargo, and passenger payloads. Focusing on B-767-300ER combi operations, the airline achieved significant efficiency gains through careful coordination, advanced revenue management, and operational discipline. The initiative reduced aircraft weight, minimized fuel over destination (FOD), and eliminated payload “holes,” boosting profitability without compromising safety. Lan Chile’s approach exemplifies how tactical planning and cross-functional integration can extract maximum value from limited aircraft capacity.
This 1992 presentation outlines American Airlines’ development of a destination-specific Ramp Arrival Fuel (RAF) plan to reduce excessive fuel carriage. By analyzing historical delays, weather patterns, and alternate airport proximity, the initiative replaced generic hold fuel policies with data-driven, airport-specific guidelines. The DFW prototype demonstrated substantial fuel savings—averaging 3,000 lbs per flight—without compromising safety. The program aimed to enhance payload capacity, lower operating costs, and improve flight planning logic, paving the way for real-time, automated RAF systems and broader operational efficiency.
This 2025 presentation by Mike Irrgang (Airline Operations Solutions) debunks outdated beliefs in airline fuel planning, revealing how legacy rules, weight estimation errors, and rigid contingency practices cause systemic inefficiencies. It highlights how modern aircraft, despite improved engines and aerodynamics, still operate under 1940s-era planning logic. Topics include the impact of inaccurate passenger weights, overuse of holding fuel, excessive buffers, and the benefits of real-time route and alternate planning. Backed by case studies—including MH370—it advocates for smarter, data-driven methodologies to enhance fuel efficiency and operational safety.
This 2015 case study, co-led by Mike Irrgang and Boeing, details AeroMéxico’s strategic overhaul of its arrival fuel policies. Targeting inefficiencies on Next-Gen 737 flights, the airline reduced arrival fuel by 1,000 kg per flight—cutting burn rates by 1.5% and saving $7M annually. Key changes included statistical fuel planning, use of closer alternates, SOP updates, and trust-building with pilots and dispatchers. Supported by ICAO Mexico and unions, the project became a model for operational transformation, combining data-driven analysis, cultural change, and cross-team collaboration for impactful cost and emissions reduction.
Presented at AGIFORS 2014, this Boeing-led initiative reimagines airline fuel efficiency through detailed analytics, replacing traditional KPI-based methods with aircraft-specific benchmarks and root cause analysis. It highlights the significant financial impact of excess arrival fuel, inefficient flight planning, and undetected operational buffers. By integrating flight data, ideal performance profiles, and real-time feedback loops, the methodology reveals hidden inefficiencies and supports targeted improvements. The proposed system enhances trust, decision-making, and performance management—potentially saving millions annually through smarter planning and execution.
This 2011 Boeing report by Michael E. Irrgang provides a comprehensive overview of airline fuel conservation, highlighting how rising fuel costs and declining yields have intensified the need for efficiency. The presentation outlines key opportunities across all phases of flight—ground operations, dispatch, climb, cruise, and descent—and emphasizes the role of weight, aircraft maintenance, and operational discipline. Special focus is given to arrival fuel as the largest remaining optimization target. With potential savings of 2–8% per aircraft, the report urges data-driven analysis, cross-departmental coordination, and cultural change to unlock substantial economic and environmental benefits.
This 2005 AGIFORS presentation by Michael E. Irrgang emphasizes the crucial role of accurate, comprehensive data in driving effective airline fuel conservation. It outlines how discrepancies in aircraft weight, excess arrival fuel, inefficient APU use, and maintenance-related deterioration contribute to unnecessary burn. The study advocates for robust tracking of planned vs. actual performance, targeted variance analysis, and improved data integration across departments—from dispatch to maintenance. By applying detailed analytics, airlines can correct costly inefficiencies, optimize operational decisions, and realize significant fuel and cost savings.
