Qantas has attacked fuel reserve increases proposed by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in a discussion paper preceding a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). If adopted, the rule would cause frequent cancellation of long-haul flights when other carriers could operate, Qantas claims.
The carrier says that CASA is abandoning an agreed plan to harmonise with US Federal Aviation Regulations, instead superimposing European Joint Aviation Requirements on them.
A detailed submission by the airline warns that proposed changes to fuel requirements would cost it A$59 million ($31.3 million) annually in extra fuel burn and reduced payload, and would frequently cause the cancellation of long haul flights which could still be operated by competing carriers.
These services are on payload-limited sectors when poor weather is forecast at the destination, says the airline.
Qantas says that fuel reserves should be calculated as relevant to its own operating environment, not as determined by Europe, and has asked that the NPRM be delayed until proper industry consultation has taken place.
Source: Flight International
