The carrier this week marked the second anniversary of its ambitious and evolving roadmap, which initially set out to steer its sustainability investments away from carbon offsetting and instead towards new ways to reduce emissions and also fleet renewal.
Two key focuses – airspace modernisation, something the CAA has been working on for several years, and zero-carbon aviation, such as hydrogen-powered aircraft – are poised to come to the fore as it enters the third year of its endeavour.
Speaking as easyJet set out its ambitions two years ago, outgoing chief executive Johan Lundgren said: "We will be implementing our roadmap step by step in the years to come, helping to ensure more sustainable travel is accessible to all for the benefit of the next generation and our planet."
So what’s next for easyJet?
New technologies
Earlier this week, easyJet confirmed a new partnership with US start-up JetZero centred around development of more efficient aircraft that will, ultimately, be capable of supporting hydrogen technology.
The airline is already working with the likes of Rolls-Royce and Airbus on several zero-emissions projects; its H2Zero partnership, announced in July 2022, came to fruition later that same year when it successfully tested a jet engine running on hydrogen instead of conventional kerosene.
Lundgren has been unequivocal in his confidence in hydrogen, hailing the 2040s the decade hydrogen "finally takes off". He is also the first chair of the Hydrogen in Aviation alliance.
Back in the present, easyJet’s partnership with JetZero will focus on developing by 2030 a blended-wing aircraft – one with no clear divide between its wings and the main fuselage.
EasyJet says such an aircraft will cut fuel burn in half in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and will also be able to be powered by hydrogen.
Public support
It is also confident about bringing consumers along on its journey. New consumer research by easyJet reveals that while six in 10 Brits want to continue flying, they want to do so in a more sustainable way.
The poll of 2,000 UK holidaymakers, carried out in August 2024, also reveals nearly three-quarters of Brits believe zero-carbon propulsion – such as hydrogen – is the future of aviation.
Furthermore, more than half of the respondents (53%) said they want the new government to prioritise efforts to accelerate zero-carbon emission flying and provide the industry more support to achieve this.
But perhaps most importantly of all, nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents said they would be more inclined to fly with an airline actively seeking to reduce its impact in future, which easyJet insists the industry risks capitalising on through inaction.
"The level of innovation we’re seeing is encouraging, but we need support from the government and regulators to ensure policy and infrastructure keeps pace with technological progress so the social and economic benefits of flying can be retained for future generations,” Lundgren added.
A modern airspace
The second strand of easyJet’s renewed aims are to pursue and lobby for modernisation of UK and EU airspace, improvements to which the airline says could save millions of tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
Data from an AI-aided analysis of all easyJet flights over a 12-month period has shown that airspace inefficiency increased the carrier’s emissions by more than 10%, equivalent to around 670,000 tonnes of additional CO2.
By applying the analysis to the wider EU aviation sector, easyJet estimates around an additional 18 million tonnes of CO2 are being produced every year.
Experts in easyJet’s flight efficiencies team contend the majority of waste occurs in and around terminal airspace, most notably during descents.
The airline is calling airspace procedures to be redesigned promptly to align with modern aircraft capabilities, which it says would not only reduce CO2 emissions but also noise pollution.
According to its study, the UK is responsible for the most operational wastage with seven of its 10 least efficient routes being inbound services to Gatwick – including high frequency options like Majorca, Faro and Nice.
EasyJet identifies Italian, French, Spanish and Swiss airspace as being in need of improvement too, each with potential efficiencies during the ascent, cruise and descent phases of the journey.
‘Unfit for purpose’
“Our data proves the airspace corridors we use today, which were built in the 1950s, are simply no longer fit for purpose,” Lundgren insisted.
"Adapting them to be more efficient would not only be significant in terms of CO2 reduction but for journey times and improving the experience of passengers.
"If we’re serious about achieving net-zero, policymakers and regulators need to come together to find a route to unlock these significant gains, and now.”
His comments were echoed by aviation minister Mike Kane who reiterated the Labour government’s commitment to modernising practices.
"EasyJet’s modelling shows how a modernised airspace system will help ease delays, support decarbonisation and reduce noise – all supporting this government’s plan to boost economic growth,” he added.
