Planes Carry Extra Fuel

Q: I've been on flights where we've had to circle for an hour before landing. How much fuel is on board for these situations? Do airlines cheat to save money?

The amount of required fuel is determined beforehand depending on weather, traffic, etc. There are complicated rules regarding minimum amounts. Although the dispatchers and planners devise the fuel loads, pilots have the final say and will routinely err on the conservative side. Carrying extra fuel costs money, but it's not nearly as expensive as the hassles of diversions (or accidents!).

Article added on June 09, 2005

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