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Does the fuel-conservation effect of higher fuel prices appear at both the aircraft-model and aggregate airline levels?

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  • Brueckner, Jan K.
  • Abreu, Chrystyane

Abstract

This paper asks whether the fuel conservation effect of high fuel prices found by Brueckner and Abreu (2017) still emerges in a regression that contains a much finer set of controls for airline fleet characteristics. The regressions relate annual fuel use by individual aircraft models at each airline to the available ton miles (ATM) for that model as well as average stage length and load factor (measured by weight) for the model. Dummy variables for the different models are also included, being interacted with the current fuel price. As in Brueckner and Abreu (2017), who used aggregate data for entire airlines, the results show that fuel usage at the aircraft-model level rises with ATM and load factor and falls with stage length. In addition, a higher fuel price reduces fuel usage for the most popular narrowbody aircraft models, showing that a fuel conservation effect is still present in this more disaggregated empirical model. This conclusion reaffirms the short-term benefits from a fuel tax, which arise from fuel conservation efforts, holding fleet characteristics fixed.

Suggested Citation

  • Brueckner, Jan K. & Abreu, Chrystyane, 2020. "Does the fuel-conservation effect of higher fuel prices appear at both the aircraft-model and aggregate airline levels?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:197:y:2020:i:c:s0165176520304079
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109647
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brueckner, Jan K. & Zhang, Anming, 2010. "Airline emission charges: Effects on airfares, service quality, and aircraft design," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 44(8-9), pages 960-971, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kevin Spiritus & Etienne Lehmann & Sander Renes, "undated". "Optimal Taxation with Multiple Incomes and Types," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-000/IVI, Tinbergen Institute.
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    3. Brueckner, Jan K. & Kahn, Matthew E. & Nickelsburg, Jerry, 2023. "How Do Airlines Cut Fuel Usage, Reducing Their Carbon Emissions?," IZA Discussion Papers 16189, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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