EasyJet & Airbus commit to joint hybrid & electric aircraft research

Easyjet and Airbus have agreed to work together on a joint research project on hybrid and electric aircraft.

In a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), both companies have committed to finding ways to understand the operational and infrastructure opportunities and challenges of plug-in hybrid and full electric aircraft. The goal is the large-scale introduction of next-generation sustainable aircraft and every-day commercial aircraft operations.   

Commenting on the partnership, Easyjet CEO Johan Lundgren said:

easyJet has a long tradition of efficient flying and a long-term partnership with Airbus. Our priority is to continue to work on reducing our carbon footprint in the short-term while we work to support the development of new technology, including hybrid-electric planes which promise to radically reduce the carbon footprint of aviation.   

 I am therefore delighted to be working with Airbus on a new hybrid and electric plane research partnership. The project will aim to identify the detailed technical challenges and requirements for hybrid and electric planes when deployed for short haul flying around Europe so that we can help shape the technology and airline networks of the future. We hope this will be an important step towards making hybrid electric planes a reality.

Easyjet says that they are focused on operating its fleet as efficiently as possible using modern fuel-efficient engines which are quieter and burn less fuel as well as carrying as many passengers as possible in the aircraft.

A testament to this is their progress so far. Since 2000 easyJet has reduced its carbon emissions per passenger per kilometre by over one-third (33.67%).

NOTE: The budget airline has also announced today that it will become the world’s first major airline to operate net-zero carbon flights across its whole network. The airline will achieve this goal by offsetting the carbon emissions from the fuel used for all of its flights, starting today (19 November 2019).

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