One in eight US adults said they were taking a GLP-1 in a November survey published by KFF, a nonprofit health research group.
Fuel is among airlines’ largest expenses. The Jefferies study estimates that the four airlines will together consume 16 billion gallons (60.5b litres) of fuel in 2026 at a total cost of US$38.6b, nearly 20% of their total expenses.
The savings from skinnier passengers would amount to just 1.5% of fuel costs.
But airlines and pilots must scrutinise even the smallest changes to a plane’s weight and balance, and a lighter payload means each jet burns less fuel to generate the thrust necessary to fly.
Investors could also stand to benefit: The researchers estimated that a 2% reduction in aircraft weight could boost earnings per share by about 4%.
Kahyaoglu said she did not expect airlines to purchase less jet fuel as a result of the study’s findings.
She said weight-loss drugs might eventually lead to changes in how airlines generate additional revenue, especially if passengers start to buy fewer snacks.
Airlines including Air New Zealand, Finnair and Korean Air have in the past drawn criticism for weighing some passengers at the gate to help calculate weight and balance.
That practice is somewhat more common on aircraft that seat just a few passengers, where a small change in weight distribution can affect how the plane flies.
But even for major airlines, efforts to cut weight and save money have sometimes veered into the extreme.
Four decades ago, for example, American removed a single olive from each passenger’s salad, saving US$40,000 per year in food and fuel costs.
“Airlines have a history of being vigilant around aircraft weight savings, from olives (pitless, of course) to paper stock,” the report says.
“Passenger waistlines have thus far been out of their control.”
None of the four major airlines commented.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Written by: Gabe Castro-Root
Photographs by: Carter Johnston
©2025 THE NEW YORK TIMES
