Executives to drive to DC; GM gives up air fleet

Images of overpaid executives flying their personal planes have had an impact, as the major domestic automaker CEOs will travel to DC to give testimony in their companies’ hybrid vehicles (though a single car-pool would seem more economical); and General Motors announced that it would give up its fleet of aircraft, effective January 1, 2009.

The trip from Detroit to Washington, DC should take around eight hours each way, and at 523 miles, will consume at least 20 gallons of gasoline per executive. An ordinary commercial jet, in contrast, would cost around $340 per executive, round trip, and take around 90 minutes each way, while using only the gallon or so of gasoline required to get to the airport and back.