If we are all outraged by gas prices these days imagine how airlines are feeling. Rising fuel cost has gotten so bad that the largest expense of these airlines is now fuel so they are taking action. Believe it or not they are doing more than cutting flights to save fuel; they are trying to lose weight. That means getting rid of anything and everything that isn’t absolutely necessary to save weight and fuel. Here are some examples:

US Airways is chucking meal carts and replacing them with models that are 12 pounds lighter. They’ve also tossed the glassware in first class in favor of less jet-set but lighter plastic cups. Carriers also are pulling magazine racks, trash compactors and ovens…American Airlines has all but called in Jenny Craig to shave weight from its fleet, pulling in-seat phones and their heavy wiring, removing lavatory power converters and investing in lighter silverware for business class passengers

Is that going to work? Well US Airways claims that its “lighter beverage carts will save $1.7 million in annual fuel costs,” and “American expects to cut fuel consumption by 111 million gallons through its weight reduction efforts.” This is very good but for some airlines it’s already to late. Flying empty has taken three airlines to their graves in the past few weeks.