Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/13/house-bill-would-block-government-case-against-boeing/
An airline has many operating costs such as the fixed cost of fuel and variable costs such as the crew’s salary and expenses. Like all companies, airlines want to cut costs while maintaining a high standard of service.
Source: http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2012/02/start/lightweight
On October 6th, 2015, Boeing released a video on their creation along side HRL Laboratories of “a metal that is 99.9 percent air.” The metal lattice is structured like a human bone, rigid and solid yet virtually hollow on the inside. This construction allows it to be lightweight, about one tenth of the weight of carbon fiber, yet maintain its strength. The sponge or mesh-like looking metal is also flexible.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/13/boeing-unveils-worlds-lightest-material-a-metal-that-is-999-air_n_8284386.html?1444736016
This breakthrough discovery will first be used on space rockets. With the decrease in weight, scientists will be able to pack more materials and equipment on space rockets now that the overall weight of the structure of the ship weighs less. After that, they will incorporate the new microlattice into airplanes such as luggage compartments or floor panels. With the decrease in weight, the lighter aircraft will become more fuel-efficient and the overall fixed cost required fuel would be lowered. In the future, I could imagine that they could also use these materials in cars to increase the fuel efficiency.
If this new metal significantly lowers fuel costs, many airlines will start to buy the new Boeing aircrafts. This research would be extremely beneficial to Boeing in the future.
Source: http://www.airlinereporter.com/tag/boeing-factory/page/4/
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