Global Fuel Analysis of Intermediate Stop Operations on Long-Haul Routes

Abstract

A global system analysis with regards to fuel efficiency and its results for an operational concept for long-range operations is presented in this paper. The net effects of an Intermediate Stop Operations (ISO) concept are shown and air transportation system related questions are discussed. It can be shown that both with existing and re-designed aircraft, the fuel saving potential is in the order of 7%–15.5% on a single mission, depending mainly on aircraft design range and the geographic location of the refueling point relative to origin and destination airports. A global analysis of all Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 flights served in 2010 is performed, defining fuel-optimum intermediate airports wherever suitable. Using only today’s aircraft would possibly yield fuel savings around 1.3%. Introducing an aircraft redesigned for 3000 nm would lead to a saving of more than 11% of the fleets total blockfuel. The optimum airport location for the ISO concept is analyzed as a function of design range. Optimum airport locations are found e.g. in India, Alaska, Siberia, or Newfoundland.