As a passenger waiting for your flight to take-off, you may have wondered how much fuel is burned while waiting stationary on the ground. I can give you some precise answers: 54kg of fuel per flight when taken as an average across the global Airbus A320 fleet, or 200kg per flight if you happen to find yourself on a widebody Boeing B777.
These may seem like small numbers. However, if you add this up across more than 5.6 million flights on Airbus A320 aircraft in 2024, it amounts up to nearly USD 200 million in fuel used just while standing still. With close to 700,000 flights across the Boeing B777 fleet in 2024, this totals USD 100 million. To give that another perspective, 45% of fuel burnt while the aircraft is on the ground occurs while the aircraft is stationary and creating no value at all.
Power of Data
With this data from IATA FuelIS, the obvious question is why is this happening and how can we reduce it. The answer starts with better coordination on the ground. This shows how data gives airlines the tools to identify problems that would otherwise remain unknown. With those valuable insights come opportunities to streamline operations across the industry or for specific locations, fleets, or operational scenarios.
Of course, fuel management has always been critical, as fuel accounts for more than 30% of airline operating costs and is a major contributor to carbon emissions. So, it is worth digging deeper to understand differences between airports, airlines, and routes. The more precisely we can quantify the problem, the more robust the solutions we can find and implement will be. For that, IATA has a unique role in collecting industry-wide data to produce a view that no single airline could construct by itself.
In terms of solutions, one clear action to reduce the time that aircraft idle on the tarmac is better coordination between airports, airlines, and Air Navigation Service Providers. Programs such as Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) enable all stakeholders to exchange data and make collaborative, informed decisions—avoiding early pushback, reducing arrival delays, and minimizing holding patterns.
And when we are able to reduce idle time, the benefits go beyond just the fuel bill. It also reduces emissions. In the case of the A320 fleet, all that idle time amount to 900 kilotons of CO2 annually. Reducing that by any measure brings us closer to our net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 commitment —filling some gaps that cannot be covered with Sustainable Aviation Fuels.
Data Insights that Deliver Value
The air transport industry generates vast amounts of data, not just on fuel usage. Collecting and using this data can make air travel more predictable, environmentally responsible, and potentially more affordable. That’s why IATA collects, analyzes, and redistributes data on every aspect of airline operations, from safety and flight schedules to turbulence and carbon emissions.
The right use of this data supports a stronger air transport industry where passengers benefit, airlines are more responsive to changes around them, and nations reap the rewards of robust, dependable connectivity.
Frederic Leger is IATA’s Senior Vice President, Products & Services
