I am just curious why the UK doesn't have "minimum fuel" as part of their lexicon?
We have that in the US...granted you still might have to divert or really declare an emergency later on.
It is sad to me that planes that can carry more fuel, don't. We all know why and I understand the concepts of tankering fuel or whatever expression you would like to use.
I do know that taking more fuel does cost a company more money, but what of the ORLY diversion? That must have cost even more. (though I applaud the pilot of said flight, short of taking an extra hour of fuel, he did the right thing)
In some ways I wish the entire world had re-regulated the airline industry...the cost of the ticket would provide a reasonable profit to the company and no shortchanging pilots or other workers on pensions. It would also allow a normal pilot to say, "I think we will take another hour of fuel just to be sure", without having to explain this to a bean counter or a chief pilot.