EasyJet uses less paint on its planes to cut carbon emissions

EasyJet uses less paint on its planes to cut carbon emissions

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EasyJet Cuts Carbon Emissions by Using Less Paint on Planes

EasyJet is reducing paint on its planes to lower fuel use and carbon emissions, aiming for a greener future in aviation.

Business

EasyJet, Carbon Emissions, Aviation, Sustainability, Luton, UK

Luton: EasyJet is making some interesting changes to its planes. They’re cutting down on the amount of paint they use. This move is all about saving fuel and reducing carbon emissions.

The airline is the first in the world to try out a new system that uses thinner layers of paint. Instead of the usual two heavy coats, they’re going for a lighter “grip” layer followed by a full coat. This change will help shave off about 27kg from each aircraft.

Now, that might not sound like much, but it’s a step in the right direction. The sustainability director, Lahiru Ranasinghe, mentioned that this is just a small part of a bigger plan. By 2029, they expect to save nearly 1,300 metric tons of jet fuel and over 4,000 tons of CO2 each year once the new paint is applied to the entire fleet.

So far, 38 planes have already been painted with this new high-performance coating. EasyJet is looking at every part of its operations to find ways to be more efficient. They’re on a mission to make their aircraft lighter, which means less fuel burn and lower costs, all while cutting down on carbon emissions.

With airlines under pressure to meet net-zero emissions by 2050, they’re trying all sorts of strategies. Unlike the car industry, which is moving towards electric vehicles, airlines are still figuring out how to go green.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is one option, but it’s not easy to produce. By 2025, UK flights will need to use at least 2% SAF, increasing to 10% by 2030. EasyJet has already reduced CO2 emissions per passenger by a third since 2000 by retiring older jets and switching to newer models.

They aim to cut their carbon footprint by 35% by 2035 compared to pre-Covid levels. So far, they’ve made a 5% improvement. Future plans include renewing their fleet and increasing SAF use, along with potential advancements in air traffic control and carbon-capture technology.

EasyJet is also teaming up with big names like Airbus and Rolls-Royce to develop zero-carbon propulsion systems. The new paint job will be done at a Dutch facility run by MAAS Aviation, a maintenance specialist based in Dublin.