The soaring popularity of weight-loss medications is delivering an unexpected financial windfall for major airlines, with carriers set to save hundreds of millions in reduced fuel costs thanks to slimmer passengers.
Multi-Million Pound Savings from Slimmer Passengers
According to a new analysis from Wall Street firm Jefferies, reported by Bloomberg, drugs like Ozempic could save the US airline industry up to $580 million in fuel costs this year alone. The report links the increased use of GLP-1 medications for weight loss and chronic conditions directly to decreased aircraft weight and lower fuel consumption.
The analysis suggests that a 10% reduction in average passenger weight could lead to top carriers like United and Delta saving as much as 1.5% on their fuel bills. This significant saving could boost earnings per share by an estimated 4%. This is no minor line item: the country's four largest airlines are projected to spend a collective $38.6 billion on jet fuel in 2026.
Widespread Drug Use and Affordability Efforts
The potential savings are driven by a dramatic rise in the use of GLP-1 agonists. A November survey by health policy organisation KFF found that one in eight American adults is now taking these medications, primarily for weight loss or to manage a chronic condition like type 2 diabetes. This marks a notable increase from figures recorded in early 2024.
However, the survey also highlighted a barrier, with more than half of users reporting difficulty affording the treatments. In a move to address this, the Trump administration announced a deal two months ago with two manufacturers to lower costs for Americans on Medicaid and Medicare, as well as for those purchasing via the new TrumpRx website.
A History of Cutting Corners to Cut Weight
The Jefferies report noted that US obesity rates are beginning to fall and pointed to the recent availability of pill forms of GLP-1s, which could broaden usage further. “With the drug now available in pill form and obesity rates falling, broader usage could have further implications for waist lines,” the analysis stated.
This presents a novel solution to a perennial industry challenge. Airlines have a long history of implementing tiny, weight-saving measures to trim fuel costs. In a note to clients, Jefferies referenced this vigilance, writing: “A slimmer society = lower fuel consumption. Airlines have a history of being vigilant around aircraft weight savings, from olives (pitless, of course) to paper stock.”
Historical examples abound:
- In the 1980s, American Airlines saved around $40,000 annually simply by removing one olive from each passenger's dinner salad.
- In 2018, United Airlines saved an estimated 170,000 gallons of fuel by switching to lighter paper for its in-flight magazine.
While the olive-saving tactics of the past required active intervention from airlines, the current trend towards weight-loss drugs offers a passive, passenger-driven saving on a potentially much larger scale, turning a public health shift into an unforeseen boon for aviation balance sheets.
