Boeing-LogoBoeing announced that it reached an agreement to acquire ETS Aviation, a British firm that specializes in fuel efficiency and management software. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The move will allow Boeing to offer its customers ETS’s fuel efficiency tools as a part of its Boeing Edge services, and will help airlines more effectively manage their fuel consumption. It’s an important purchase, considering that Airlines are trying to remain as profitable as possible while still offering cheap flights alongside rising fuel costs.

ets_logo_400x72“With fuel costs accounting for as much as 40 percent of airline operating costs, reducing fuel consumption enables airlines to be more successful while reducing emissions,” Stan Deal, the Senior Vice President of Commercial Aviation Services for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a press release “Adding these fuel-efficiency tools enhances the edge we provide customers, helping airlines realize greater operating and environmental efficiencies.”

Right now, ETS’s software supports more than 600 planes for almost 900,000 flights every year. The Boeing acquisition could significantly expand the reach of that product.

Of course, the purchase could also help boost airlines’ interest in Boeing’s airplanes. The company is locked in a battle with Airbus over who can sell the most planes to airlines, and providing detailed fuel efficiency data as a part of its other services could be a boon to Boeing.

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