Flying naked in Hong Kong

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, May 18, 2006

Cathay Pacific is stripping the paint off its fleet of 14 747 cargo jets, in a bid to save weight — and fuel costs.

The Hong Kong-based airline put the first of the paintless planes into service Thursday, People’s Daily reports. http://english.people.com.cn/200605/18/eng20060518_266672.html

Key Quote: “Except the airway’s identity on tail and nose, the entire body of the freighter is stripped of any paint and named ‘silver bullet’ for the natural metal color of silver.”

Cathay flies a lot of long-haul routes, and is trying hard to find ways to cut its fuel bill, says Flight International. http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/05/18/Navigation/177/206690/Cathay+Pacific+stripping+paint+from+Boeing+747+freighters+to+cut.html

Key Quote: “Cathay … says the Boeing 747 with a polished silver fuselage is now around 200kg lighter and this will help it save around HK$1.5 million ($195,000) per year in fuel costs.”

The airline also is introducing lighter cargo and baggage containers.

Here’s Cathay’s press release: http://www.cathaypacific.com/intl/aboutcx/press/0,,31342-138303,00.html

Key Quote, from Cathay Pacific Director and General Manager Cargo Ron Mathison: “’Today’s high – and rising – fuel costs are placing a great burden on all airlines and everything we can do to cut fuel burn by losing weight is very welcome.’”