Fly naked

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, November 17, 2005

In a move sending shivers through paint shops everywhere, Air Canada is experimenting with an unpainted plane. Flight International http://www.flightinternational.com/Articles/2005/11/16/Navigation/177/202916/Air+Canada+rolls+out+bare+metal+Boeing+767.html has got a picture of it.

Key Quote: “Air Canada says the process … reduces the aircraft weight by around 160kg (360lb). That could save something like $24,000 in fuel costs per year at current prices.”

This move was discussed at a recent Air Canada shareholders meeting, in which a critic of airline management complained they are wasting money by repainting the planes too often, The Globe and Mail of Toronto reported http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20051111/RACE11/TPBusiness/Canadian last week.

Key Quote: “(Chairman Robert) Milton said that while Air Canada is experimenting with stripping paint off one Boeing 767, he believes that it’s crucial for aircraft to look sharp, so the airline will still repaint the bulk of its 300-plane fleet because a new paint job enhances the carrier’s image.”