Two years ago, for the first time, some people in my company decided that the Dispatch Release fuel could be reduced by 200 pounds, without a new release or amendment.
I wonder which management "suit(s)" pocketed a cash bonus for that slight operating cost reduction idea? Many of their cost-savings were later somewhat nullified when the Upper Mgmt "Team"
were given about $300,000,000 worth of free corporate stock.
This Release Fuel policy change only happened because of high fuel prices-there can be no other possible reason. Sure, our APU burns about that much when we sit on the ground about 45 minutes after fueling.
If our Dispatch Supervisors ever had the sole authority to determine the maximum fuel we could carry (which they never will: with all due respect, they are not in the c0ckpit with us), it would be like the HMOs
here telling doctors whether your required medical procedure can be paid for, or should something much less effective be prescribed for your major medical condition...