I’m considering getting one of those cheap tickets you see which is a direct round trip from MSP to Orlando for $60 including fees (it wasnt the date i wanted but it was cheap). How does that make economic sense for the airline? Sure the plane is making the trip anyway, but how can hauling my 200lbs of man meat 1500miles for $30 each direction not more than offset the fuel?
In: Economics
If you’re travelling 1000 miles, an airliner will use approximately 20% of your body weight in fuel to carry you, which we’ll call 40lbs.
MSP to MCO is roughly 1300 miles, so the airline will need 40×1.3lbs of fuel, which is 52lbs.
Jet A1 is roughly $0.39 per lb at the moment.
52×0.39 is $20.28
So $30 should cover your fuel for the flight, plus a bit extra.
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