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The Boeing 777-300ER, a major long-haul aircraft, is known for its fuel efficiency when measured per passenger. The jet can carry up to 45,220 gallons of fuel and has a maximum takeoff weight of 660,000 pounds for flights as long as 5,600 nautical miles. When considering fuel consumption on a per-passenger basis, the aircraft achieves approximately 70 miles-per-gallon (MPG), a figure that is comparable to some motorcycles or hybrid cars.
This efficiency calculation depends on several factors including distance flown, payload, weather conditions, and actual passenger count. The Boeing 777-300ER typically seats between 368 and 550 passengers depending on configuration. The quoted MPG figure reflects seat-miles per gallon—a standard industry metric—rather than the airplane’s overall MPG.
Fuel flow data indicates that during cruise on intercontinental routes, the aircraft burns about seven tons of jet fuel per hour (approximately 2,300 gallons). At cruising speed (about 553 miles per hour), this equates to roughly a quarter-mile traveled per gallon of fuel consumed by the entire plane. However, dividing this by an average load of around 300 passengers yields the higher seat-mileage figure cited by manufacturers and airlines.
