Southwest Airlines Introduces “Green” Plane

Southwest Airlines has introduced a “green” plane concept. By taking a standard Boeing 737-700 and replacing much of the cabin with “green” features, the plane itself ends up weighing about 472 pounds less. This saved weight translates into lower fuel costs over time. Should all of Southwest’s planes go “green”, it would result in up to $10.3 million a year in savings.

Seems like a good idea, right?

But what about that upfront cost? How much did it cost to “go green”? Standard, Boeing 737-700s cost approximately $40 million a piece. Thus far, no one has been able to answer this question at Southwest, but as a frequent Southwest flyer myself, my interest is certainly piqued.