What is the sense in forcing planes to fly without passengers

[BADecker]

Why not fly some small private planes instead just to keep the slots filled? It would be much cheaper!

and what is about the infrastructure? did you ever looked at the costs to keep an a380 flying?

Right! Just keeping the engine bearings lubed while they are not running is hard enough.

[franky1]

a 747 uses 36,000 gallons on a 10 hour flight. =~$62k fuel

a first class seat for a 10hour flight is ~$4k
they only need 12 first class passengers to cover the fuel.

put this into prospective

The Transportation Department imposes a fine of up to $27,500 per passenger for planes left on the tarmac for more than three hours without taking off (four hours for international flights).

[Naida_BR]

I understand that air lines have to use at least 80% of their traffic slots, or they will have them taken away from them. As nobody wants to fly because of the virus, it means that the planes are flying empty. That can't be good for the environment, or for the profits of the company. They should be able to reduce their obligations, or maybe they should use the flights to carry freight.

Mentour pilot talks about ghost flights in this video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVzMXQ8Qx_s

Air companies might be getting money from this activity.
even if the flights are empty from passengers they will be getting money about making flights.
Or another reason might be a contract that needs to be fulfilled.

[Spendulus]

a 747 uses 36,000 gallons on a 10 hour flight. =~$62k fuel

a first class seat for a 10hour flight is ~$4k
they only need 12 first class passengers to cover the fuel.

put this into prospective

The Transportation Department imposes a fine of up to $27,500 per passenger for planes left on the tarmac for more than three hours without taking off (four hours for international flights).

Aviation fuel may range in the USA from 3$ to 7$ per gallon, in Europe it can be much, much higher. No way 36k gallons is 62,000 US$ or Euro$.

[tanef478]

In any case, the industry will suffer losses.