Aviation Fuel price records

[dohboi]

"Airlines ratcheted up the pressure on fliers ahead of the holiday weekend, significantly raising ticket prices to offset the runaway cost of fuel."

The MSM are now using terms like "runaway" and "sky high" to describe the rising cost of fuel. We have long bemoaned on these threads the lack of attention that the media have paid to the issues of PO oil.

But now they are starting to use terms that match reality, and yet somehow I am not comforted.

How long till another airlines folds. How long can the industry as a whole continue at these levels, not to mention the much higher levels to come.

[Sketh]

Don't want to spam the thread with news links, but the wires are heavy today with very pessimistic forecasts for the airline industry.

UK Telegraph:

British Airways warns oil surge will put a rash of airlines out of business

British Airways believes it can ride out the storm caused by the rocketing oil price by making capacity cuts of only around 2pc this winter.

Willie Walsh, BA's chief executive, said he had no plans to follow the swingeing 12pc cut announced by Oneworld partner American Airlines on Wednesday, that will see it remove at least 75 of the 954 aircraft in its fleet.

But he warned that, with the oil price topping $130 a barrel, the entire aviation industry was heading into uncharted territory and predicted a rash of airline failures. Fares would also have to rise.
...
Mr Walsh said: "I don't think the industry can absorb these significant increases. Our fuel bill represents 35pc-37pc of our cost base. In 2000 it was 9pc. For a low-fare airline it represents about 50pc. Some of the low-fare carriers can't make money at $85. For them this is life threatening. Those that are weak are going to go out of business."

[phaster]

Avgas is still climbing, up to 5.22 nationally this week.
Jet fuel had moderated ever so slightly but is back up to 3.61 nationally.

wow, been on this board for about a year now and just found this thread...

anyway just filled up with 100LL here in San Diego and I paid $4.95 a gal

since it sound like you're also an airport bum, just thought I'd share with ya something pretty darn unique, I got to check out a pretty unique russian figher which was at the airport this afternoon
Polikarpov

if you look at the spinner (there is a photo) of the aircraft from the above link, it looks pretty darn big and that is because the engine in this thing is the same engine from the AN-2 (ironically enought there was on in the pattern this morning)
Antonov

This is one plane I wish I could own, you can buy them pretty cheap, like for 40k
Barnstormers

and there are some really nice ones that are ground up restorations
Contoller

but they burn 50 gal/hour at cruise, which works aout to about 2 MPG, and since its a radial it also burn I've heard about a gal of oil an hour. Then there is the hull insurance, which I'd guess is in the neighborhood for 10 to 20k per year a year cause its a big old trail dragger...

[AirlinePilot]

Avgas 5.39


Jet Fuel 3.98


The airlines are in nothing less than Deep Shit. I expect some rather major announcements soon about further capacity cuts which will be more significant than any yet.

Cant keep this up for the long haul. Its either that or air travel gets really expensive really quickly.

[Ferretlover]

Flint Hills Resources explores options for North Pole refinery
By Christopher Eshleman
… Company President Brad Razook wrote in an e-mail to employees in Alaska on Monday that the Kansas-based company will explore three options — selling the plant, “reconfiguring” the site and expanding operations to increase volume and reduce operating costs. …
Razook’s e-mail indicated changes may be “needed” at the 30-year-old refinery, which relies heavily on oil as a feedstock — unlike many other refineries in the United States, which can rely largely on natural gas. …
May be losing a refinery by the end of the year
60% of the crude processed there is for aviation fuel; they are having EROEI problems due to lack of NG for processing, and, Alaska recently added new fees which were backdated to when the refinery was purchased by current owner which is adding millions to the operating costs.

[dukey]

airlines generally hedge their fuel costs or a certain %
so complicates the picture somewhat

for the us airline industry i seem to recall south west airlines hedged a lot of their fuel costs

meanwhile in EU land ..

British Airways profits soar 45%
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7404085.stm

[AirlinePilot]

UAL announced today they are parking all 737 and some 747 aircraft.

100 aircraft in all. I know what I predicted yesterday but didn't think it would come so quick. With credit markets and money lending the way it is, I predict UAL is Chapter 7 within 6-9 months. They are on their death bed.

UAL parks jets

[caliginousface]

Paying 5.85 for avgas up here. Woowoooo!

[paimei01]

Why do airline companies suffer ? Can't they just raise the price of tickets and make a profit ? or are there not enough travelers already ?

[mcgowanjm]

Avgas 5.39


Jet Fuel 3.98


The airlines are in nothing less than Deep crap. I expect some rather major announcements soon about further capacity cuts which will be more significant than any yet.

Cant keep this up for the long haul. Its either that or air travel gets really expensive really quickly.

"Friday, June 13, 2008
Upcoming Flight Conditions
Reeling from zooming fuel prices, more airlines have just announced they will charge $15 for the first piece of checked luggage. Some are even starting to charge $2 for water and soft drinks. But why stop there? Here are some alternatives for the post-peak world.

1. Waste-The-Waist fares. Anyone over 100 lbs. gets charged $1/lb extra.
2. Deals-For-Meals. Planes will only carry one quarter of the meals and drinks required to serve all passengers. Attendants will then proceed to auction them off to the highest bidders. Should work particularly well on long international flights....

Check it out:

http://suddendebt.blogspot.com/

[FireJack]

" 2. Deals-For-Meals. Planes will only carry one quarter of the meals and drinks required to serve all passengers. Attendants will then proceed to auction them off to the highest bidders."


I'm going to make a guess that before that they would cut meals altogether and just offer water or juice regardless of the length of the flight since no one would be flying unless they absolutely had to due to the ticket prices. OF course fuel shortages might cut flights down to a need to basis (ie government cronies or military).

[AirlinePilot]

Avgas 5.51


Jetfuel 3.97


Avgas continues its slow weekly march higher. I know I think a lot harder about flying my little bird now, but can still afford it with little problem.

I do think that the price climb with Avgas is going to really start hampering the smaller general aviation consumer fairly dramatically.

For those interested this is about as cheap as personal flying can get.....

[frankthetank]

That is a nice looking plane.

How much would it cost per hour to fly that and at what speed? I'd keep her fueled and ready to flee... Probably make Bermuda in no time!

We want to hit Mexico for one last time next winter, but i'm not booking until the last minute.

[AirlinePilot]

Strictly a "100$ hamburger" type plane. Costs about 30-35$/hour to fly (total costs). Burns 5 gal/hour. Its just for local pleasure flights really. Cant carry any real load, and it only goes about 100 mph. Range of about 280-325 miles depending on winds.

[caliginousface]

Strictly a "100$ hamburger" type plane. Costs about 30-35$/hour to fly (total costs). Burns 5 gal/hour. Its just for local pleasure flights really. Cant carry any real load, and it only goes about 100 mph. Range of about 280-325 miles depending on winds.

$30-35??!?! I wish we had those rates out here! A 152 around these parts is 86/hr.

[AirlinePilot]

Thats MY cost to fly it, I dont rent. I own the aircraft free and clear. I consider insurance, fuel, and a certain amount for maintenance each hour in determining the cost.

[AirlinePilot]

Avgas 5.60

Jetfuel 4.08

This is really getting serious.

[SMA]

$30-35??!?! I wish we had those rates out here! A 152 around these parts is 86/hr.

You guys still have it cheap then; the 152 at my flying club rents for the equivalent of 190 dollars/hour, fuel included.

[AirlinePilot]

Avgas 5.65/gal.

I just attended a recent fly in of Cessna 150 owners in Iowa. Attendance was down about 25%. Avgas prices are really starting to hurt General Aviation on the recreational side.

Jet Fuel 3.96/gal.

While that is down a bit since last week or two it is still ridiculously high and not commensurate with the decrease in crude prices.

Airlines are still bleeding due to this. It's going to be very interesting to see how long this can go on before they start dropping out of the race.