9 Comments

How airlines can reduce costs

According to a Chinese airline, each single toilet flush at 30,000-ft. wastes 1-litre of fuel. Multiple that by 200 passengers, and you have 200-litres of fuel being flushed down the toilet. For this reason, Chinese airlines are urging passengers to take care of “business” before boarding the plane. Thoughts?

A Chinese airline has calculated that it takes a litre of fuel to flush the toilet at 30,000 feet and is urging passengers to go to the bathroom before they board. As Chinese airlines come under increasing pressure to cut fuel expenditures, China Southern’s latest strategy is to encourage passengers “to spend their pennies before boarding the aircraft”, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday. “The energy used in one flush is enough for an economical car to run at least 10 kilometres,” [...]

Everyone that I’ve spoken to believes that the idea is one that should be urged at airports throughout the world. Personally, I’m beginning to see the benefits. Reducing the amount of fuel used may lead to decreasing costs for airline tickets and the strange odor emitted from the lavatory mid-flight from the passenger if seat 12C.


  • Andrew Clark

    yes but there is only so much you can do, what about international flights etc. I believe that aircraft manufacturers should try to improve bathroom efficiency.

  • http://5thirtyone.com Derek

    I’m not an airplane fan but can someone explain the reason why waste is not collected under the plane and removed at the airport?

  • Cassie

    What do they do with they waste?? I dont mean to sound stupid or naive, but I dont know and I’m curious.

  • http://5thirtyone.com Derek

    It gets dumped mid-flight.

  • Andrew Clark

    Derek it actually doesnt anymore, environmental issues and all, it only gets dumped on international fliights that pass through certian “dump”mzones.

  • Airdog

    Actually there is no way to dump waste from aircraft in flight. It is not a feature that is available on any current aircraft. The only dumping possible is to dump fuel overboard and that is only on aircraft who’s takeoff weight can exceed its maximum landing weight.

  • Jim

    Is this the andy clark that now lives in Germany?

  • http://5thirtyone.com Derek

    That’s great to hear. Thanks for that Andrew. So any particular reason why flights don’t store the waste until landing?

  • http://www.ashley.phpfora.com Ashley

    It is not dumped mid flight it is stored in big hazardous wasta tanks next to you luggage! Then removed and disposed of at the airport so I read!

Privacy Policy | About Us | Contact Us | Write for us