Aircraft Fuel Efficiency
Compute aircraft fuel efficiency = distance / fuel.
km/L
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Fuel efficiency: grams of fuel per passenger per km
Aircraft fuel efficiency is usually quoted as L/100 km/pax or grams of fuel per passenger-kilometre, which is the same metric we apply to cars. Among modern wide-bodies the Boeing 787 sits around 2.9 L/100 km/pax, roughly 60% better than a 1970s Boeing 747, while the Airbus A380 comes in near 3.3. Light general aviation is far thirstier per head: a Cessna 172 is about 13. For a road comparison, a Tesla Model 3 draws around 16 kWh/100 km split across whoever's aboard. ICAO CORSIA (with its 2019 baseline) makes airlines offset whatever they emit above that line, and SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) can shave life-cycle emissions by up to 80%. To put numbers on it: 2500 L of jet-A1 carrying 180 passengers over 1000 km works out to about 1.4 L/100 km/pax, a typical narrow-body figure.
Applications
Operational planning, cutting a carbon footprint, aviation ESG and sustainability reporting, comparing air against rail and road, deciding when to renew a fleet, working out route economics, hedging fuel, and keeping CORSIA offset accounting straight.
FAQ
Is flying always worse than driving? Not necessarily. On a packed long-haul wide-body the per-passenger figure can match or beat a car carrying just the driver. Fill that car with people, though, and the road usually wins again.
Why are short flights less efficient? Take-off and climb eat a disproportionate amount of fuel. On a short leg there isn't enough cruise time to spread that cost over, so the per-km consumption climbs.
Does SAF really cut emissions? Over the full life cycle, SAF made from waste or e-fuels can take CO₂ down 60–80% compared with fossil jet-A1. The catch is supply: it still covers under 1% of global demand.
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The results provided by this tool are for general informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute professional, financial, medical, legal, tax or accounting advice. Always confirm important decisions with a qualified professional and official sources.