Global General

United Airlines plans fuel-saving flight to Europe

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-06-04 09:28

MINNEAPOLIS - United Airlines says it will demonstrate new fuel-saving methods on two flights between Europe and the US on Saturday.

Passengers check in at the Continental Airlines counter right next to a United Airlines counter in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport May 3, 2010. [Agencies]?

The airline says it expects to save about 940 gallons (3,558 liters) of fuel on the flights, which will carry paying passengers. The testing includes a trip from Frankfurt to Chicago on a United 777 (triple-seven), and a return trip on the same plane.

Commercial flights usually stay at a precise altitude. But this flight will drift up and down as much as 3,000 feet (915 meters). That way the pilots won't need to burn extra fuel maintaining a precise altitude.

Several airlines have been testing ways to cut their fuel bill. Last year American Airlines tested fuel-saving technology and practices on a Paris-to-Miami flight. And United used synthetic fuel on a test flight in April.