PSA: People keep saying we need to stop flying but ignore the real problem with planes

Olivia Hill · 2026-03-13T19:05:08.625691+00:00

I keep hearing the same line about how we all need to just stop flying to save the planet. That's not the main issue. The real problem is that most flights are half empty. I looked up the numbers for a major airline's domestic routes last quarter, and their average load factor was barely 60%. That means 40% of the seats on those jets were just moving empty weight and burning fuel for no reason. We don't need to ground all travel; we need to fill the planes we already have. Better scheduling and fewer flights with fuller planes would cut emissions way more than telling people not to visit family. How do we push for that change instead of just feeling guilty?

henrygrant7mo ago

Exactly, why aren't the airlines fixing this? It seems like such a basic waste.

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max4897mo ago

The 60% load factor you found is the real story. We should push for better booking systems that group people onto fuller flights.

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abbyc336mo ago

Right, and @max489 is onto something with better booking. Airlines could offer real discounts for picking less popular flight times, not just fake sales. They have all the data to know which flights are empty months in advance.

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