WestJet unveiled an enlightened plan to save on fuel costs Friday — pumping helium into ventilation systems to help lighten the weight of their planes.

"As a low-cost airline, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to keep our costs low," WestJet's squeaky voiced spokesperson Richard Bartrem said of the plan.

Helium is 85 per cent less dense than nitrogen, the element that makes up 80 per cent of the air we breathe. As such, the Calgary-based company says the "state-of-the-art, money-saving" idea could cut the airline's fuel costs by as much as three to four per cent per year by making their fleet of 737s naturally more buoyant.

For video of exactly how the plan works, visit westjet.com/helium, or watch Scott Peterson's weighty report on the story in the player above.