A system for controlling blade tip clearances in a gas turbine engine may comprise an active clearance control system and a controller in operable communication with the active clearance control system. The controller may be configured to identify a cruise condition, reduce a thrust limit of the gas turbine engine to a de-rated maximum climb thrust, determine a first target tip clearance based on the de-rated maximum climb thrust, and send a command signal correlating to the first target tip clearance to the active clearance control system.