And you thought $2.17 a gallon was too much...

For those of you that don't know, I'm trying to 'get into' the whole business and investing scene. My father-in-law told me about American Airlines saving $118 million a year just on fuel. WOW!!! Check out some of these little facts/stats about AMR

From a CBS News article [link] and an Airport Business article [link]

Jet fuel accounts for nearly 20 percent of American's costs, its second-largest expense behind labor. American spent $2.8 billion on fuel last year, and with stubbornly high oil prices, it estimates the 2004 cost will be $3.4 billion.

Fuel-saving steps American has taken: taxiing on one engine instead of two, and shutting down auxiliary gas-powered engines while planes are parked at the terminal.

To reduce weight and improve mileage, American jets have been carrying half as much reserve fuel on international routes since May after the Federal Aviation Administration approved.

American also uses its planes as tankers, ferrying fuel from places where it is cheap instead of filling up where it is costly. This summer, when jet fuel cost $1.58 a gallon in California but $1.16 in Dallas, American saved $400 a flight by filling up in Texas.

An engine on a taxiing MD-80 airliner burns as much fuel as 90 sport utility vehicles driving 60 mph.

The average two-hour MD-80 flight consumes more than 2,100 gallons of fuel. A five-hour Boeing 767 flight burns 7,500 gallons.

American refuels its planes 60,000 times a month.

Crude oil prices remained above $55 per barrel this week, up more than 80 percent since 2001.

What innovative steps has your organization taken to reduce cost?