Weight loss medications may help airlines reduce fuel expenses as Americans lose weight

How Weight Loss Medications Could Impact Airline Fuel Expenses

Recent developments in weight loss drugs may unexpectedly benefit airlines by reducing overall passenger weight, which could lead to lower fuel consumption and significant cost savings.

As GLP-1 weight loss medications become more widely available in the United States, analysts anticipate a noticeable decrease in average body weight across the population. According to a recent report from Jefferies Research Services, this trend could result in airlines using less fuel and saving money as a result.

The amount of fuel an aircraft requires is closely tied to its total weight, which includes passengers, their baggage, and other cargo. Heavier planes demand more fuel, while lighter loads help reduce fuel needs.

To minimize fuel usage, airlines have long implemented strategies to keep aircraft as light as possible—ranging from serving lighter food options to using thinner paper products, as highlighted by Jefferies analysts.

Despite these efforts, airlines cannot control the weight of their passengers.

Jefferies’ analysis suggests that if medications like Ozempic and Wegovy help reduce the average weight of society by 10%, the total weight of airline passengers could drop by 2%. This reduction could translate to a 1.5% decrease in fuel consumption and a 4% increase in earnings per share for airlines.

Case Study: Boeing 737 Max 8

To illustrate the potential impact, Jefferies modeled a scenario using a Boeing 737 Max 8. The aircraft has an empty weight of 99,000 pounds and a fuel capacity of 46,000 pounds. With 178 passengers averaging 180 pounds each and approximately 4,000 pounds of cargo, the total takeoff weight reaches 181,200 pounds. If the average passenger weight drops by 10% to 162 pounds, the plane’s total weight would decrease to 177,996 pounds.

Based on these calculations, Jefferies estimates that the four largest U.S. airlines—American, Delta, Southwest, and United—could collectively save $580 million in fuel costs annually. This is out of an expected $38.6 billion in total jet fuel expenditures for the year.

This research was prompted by pharmaceutical companies introducing new weight loss pills and follows a 2023 Jefferies report examining how weight reduction affects airline fuel expenses.

With these drugs now available in pill form and declining obesity rates, analysts believe that broader adoption could further influence average body weight and, consequently, airline operations.