'Huge environmental waste' as US airlines fly near-empty planes

[turbinetree]

The coronavirus outbreak has provoked a string of unsettling sights, such as the sudden widespread use of masks, shuttered businesses and deserted streets. Another unusual phenomenon is also playing out in the skies – near-empty airplanes flying through the air.

Widespread travel restrictions around the world have slashed demand for air travel, with more than eight in 10 flights canceled. But there is a disparity in the US – while the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has reported a 96% slump in passenger volume, to a level not seen since 1954, this hasn’t been matched by the number of flights being scrapped.

Slightly more than half the flights within the US have been canceled, leading to a slew of near-empty flights. Less than one in 10 seats on domestic flights were filled by passengers last week, according to an estimate by Dan Rutherford, aviation director at the International Council on Clean Transportation.

“The evidence suggests that the number of people flying is dropping faster than the flights so there are a lot of empty planes,” he said. “The airlines are left to figure this out for themselves and they are playing catch-up.”

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/17/us-airlines-empty-planes-coronavirus-environment

And at the following airport...............check out the terminal and parking closures

https://www.phl.org/

[Sherman A1]

1. I drove past the west end of Lambert St. Louis last weekend

and there were a number of planes parked wing tip to wing tip.

[turbinetree]

3. We haven't seen anything yet...........this is going to take a very long time....

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. This has happened so fast that the airlines haven't been able yet to design schedules

that would get their airplanes and crews in the right places to pick up the few passengers they do have. So they have to fly empty or nearly-empty planes all over the place at great cost to them as well as the environment.

[turbinetree]

4. Yepper spot on....................ticket prices and revenue passenger per mile just doesn't add up

to fly that one plane with lets say 10 people on board counting the crew..........based on one hour of flying time and landing fees and other associated costs, parking them is also not cheap, so they are now in no win situation...........

[sl8]

5. Why airlines are required to keep flying 'ghost planes' under the terms of the COVID-19 bailout ...

From https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-airlines-bailout-empty-flights-requirement-2020-4

Why airlines are required to keep flying 'ghost planes' under the terms of the coronavirus bailout package

David Slotnick Apr 3, 2020, 3:14 PM

• Airlines continue to fly across the US despite only having a few passengers on each flight, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

• In the COVID-19 bailout package, the CARES Act, airlines receiving aid are required to continue flying to every domestic destination they already serve, even with low passenger numbers.

• Industry experts explained to Business Insider that the requirement is designed to keep supply chains stable and transport essential personnel, like government and healthcare workers, as well as to maintain connectivity to smaller areas.

[...]

[Igel]

7. Yes, but you can't expect an expert to be aware of something that was

publicized as part of one of the few bills passed in March.

He already knows everything. He can't be expected to become aware of something he doesn't already know because such information can't exist.

Or, more likely, he's playing off the fact that "airlines got bailout" and "airlines are wasting money and polluting because they're just stupid and slow" are the two things he says and therefore the only two things his readers will know. And they won't ask if there could be another reason, much less actually try to find it. And already be aware of the reason? A good speaker or writer knows his audience.

[jberryhill]

6. Passenger Aircraft Also Carry Cargo

One of the reasons they have to keep flying is that they are contracted to carry cargo, US Mail, and other things.

[BusyBeingBest]

8. Well, empty planes and wasted fuel suck but

not my top concern right now. Considering that less driving/flying/fuel use/factory emissions are also going on concurrently to mitigate it.