EasyJet is planning to upgrade its A320 fleet with Airbus Descent Profile Optimisation (DPO) and Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) for enhanced fuel saving and noise reduction, respectively. As per Airbus, the DPO and CDA functions will allow the aircraft to descend from cruise altitude using only idle engine thrust, thus reducing fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions.
Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said: “Challenging the status quo is in easyJet’s DNA. Today, we’re the first airline to outline an ambitious roadmap in which zero carbon emission technology plays a key role to take us to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. And 82% of the British public agree with us, believing that zero carbon emission flying is the best approach to truly decarbonize aviation.
Captain David Morgan, easyJet’s interim COO said: “While our ultimate ambition is to achieve zero carbon emission flying, we must continue our focus on reducing the carbon emissions in our operation each and every day. That’s why this multi-million-pound investment is an important step in achieving a permanent reduction in the short-term which will see us operating the largest fleet of DPO and CDA-enabled aircraft in the world.
Wouter Van Wersch, Executive Vice President, Region, and Sales Europe said: “We are very pleased that easyJet will equip its entire Airbus A320-family-fleet with these state-of-the-art technologies. By combining the use of DPO and CDA, EasyJet will further reduce its fuel consumption while optimizing the trajectory of all its flights.”
EasyJet said that to further enhance fuel reduction and noise impact, DPO and CDA maximise the time spent at an efficient cruise level -by not starting the descent too early and removing the ‘level-off’ stage at the bottom of the descent when the aircraft’s engines generate thrust to maintain level flight in dense air prior to final landing approach.
EasyJet plans to finish the upgrade on its fleet of 300 A320 fleet by the end of 2023.
This news forms part of easyJet new SBTi aligned net-zero roadmap, which has been announced today. easyJet’s plan through to 2050 includes targets to achieve: 35% carbon emission intensity reduction by 2035 (validated by SBTi), and 78% carbon emission intensity reduction by 2050 with residual emissions addressed through carbon removals.
As well as the adoption of new technology like the DPO and CDA detailed above, easyJet aims to scale up its use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in line with Refuel EU proposed mandates as a minimum. easyJet plc commits to reduce well-to-wake GHG emissions related to jet fuel from owned and leased operations by 35% per revenue tonne kilometre (RTK) by FY2035 from a FY2019 base year. The target boundary includes biogenic emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks. Non-CO2e effects which may also contribute to aviation induced warming are not included in this target.
Lundgren said: “Today, we’re the first airline to outline an ambitious roadmap in which zero carbon emission technology plays a key role to take us to net-zero emissions by 2050 and ultimately to zero carbon emission flying across our entire fleet. And I’m really pleased that our partner Rolls Royce has also confirmed today it is making final preparations for the first hydrogen engine tests to take place.
“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.”