- Partnership will analyse the opportunities and challenges surrounding hybrid and electric aircraft
- Collaboration supports a joint vision to decarbonise aviation
easyJet and Airbus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to a joint research project on hybrid and electric aircraft.
The MoU is an important step towards furthering the industry’s understanding of the operational and infrastructure opportunities and challenges of plug-in hybrid and full electric aircraft.
easyJet and Airbus will cooperate on three distinct work packages set to define the impacts and the requirements necessary for the large-scale introduction of next generation sustainable aircraft on infrastructure and every-day commercial aircraft operations.
This collaboration supports the work already underway with easyJet partner and US start-up company, Wright Electric, which will continue alongside the Airbus collaboration.
Wright Electric has set itself the challenge of building an all-electric commercial passenger jet capable of flying passengers across easyJet’s UK and European network within a decade. It has commenced work on an electric engine that will power a nine seater aircraft. Wright Electric partner Axter Aerospace already has a two seater aircraft flying, and the larger aircraft is expected to start flying in the coming weeks. The prototype propulsion system for the nine-seat aircraft is four times more powerful than the system installed on the two-seat aircraft.
In addition to these initiatives, easyJet remains 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.
Pioneering has always been a core element of the airline’s strategy and since 2000 easyJet has reduced its carbon emissions per passenger per kilometre by over one-third (33.67%).
easyJet, 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.
