Infographic Thanks to GOOD + Amanda Buck
Most of us consider miles per gallon to be a pretty good measure of a car’s environmental impact. We call SUVs “gas-guzzlers,” and praise a Prius for being eco-friendly. But, as quick as many of us are to judge a vehicle on wheels by its fuel consumption, we’re a bit behind when it comes to considering how various planes impact the earth we live on and the air we breathe. Considering how significant travel across continents and seas is for a lot of us, it may be a good idea to start not only picking a flight based on cost and convenience, but also on fuel efficiency.
From the Wall Street Journal:
With cars, you measure miles per gallon in how far the vehicle can travel on one gallon of gas. With airlines, it’s how far one seat (occupied or not) can travel on one gallon of jet fuel. And U.S. major airlines average about 64 mpg, according to calculations using Department of Transportation data for 2009. For each gallon of jet fuel, airlines could, on average, fly one seat 64 miles. That’s better than your SUV or hybrid car, unless you pack lots of people into the car.
Considering the above, which airlines are the “gas-guzzlers,” and which are the eco-friendliest? According to The Wall Street Journal, Delta, American, and Continental Airlines are the SUVs of the sky. The Prius’s include Alaska Airlines, jetBlue Airways, and Continental Airlines. In other words, these are the least and most fuel efficient airlines out there, respectively.
If you’re a more visual person, check out the great infographic at the top of this post, created by GOOD and Amanda Buck.
[Via: The Wall Street Journal]
[Photo Via: GOOD]
