British low-cost airline EasyJet plans to trial a new lightweight painting method, in an effort to save fuel and reduce the overall weight of aircraft.
The method will reduce mostly the number of layers needed per plane to paint EasyJet’s iconic white and orange design. The low-cost airline works with Mankiewicz Aviation Coatings for the paint system, which has already been used on 38 aircraft.
Although the technique is still very recent, making EasyJet one of the first airlines to use it, it is expected that reduce about 27 kg of weight by air. In turn, this is expected to translate into a fuel saving of some 1,296 tonsonce the entire EasyJet fleet uses the new painting system, it is expected to be fully adopted by end of this decade.
However, the company has also indicated that it is studying other measures to reduce the weight of the aircraft, in an attempt to further reduce the carbon emissions and fuel consumption. This includes focusing on improving operational efficiency, fleet renewal and airspace modernization.
The company has already experienced some fuel savings on planes testing the new method. This could be important for EasyJet to achieve much-needed cost savings in the future once it has been rolled out across the fleet, particularly given the competitive that is the current market of aviation.
EasyJet has also faced a number of problems in recent months, including rising delays and the cancellations of flights. Furthermore, there have been several cabin crew strikes which have further complicated operations. However, the airline has resisted in 2024, increasing its benefitsannual by 34% and registering a passenger record.
Lahiru Ranasinghe, Chief Sustainability Officer at EasyJet, stated in a press release posted on the company’s website: “EasyJet constantly explores and develops innovative solutions to reduce the impact of our operations.
“While this constitutes a small part of a broader strategy, the formulation of a new light paint with our partners at Mankiewicz Aviation Coatings exemplifies how we are evaluating every part of our operations to find efficiency improvements to help us accomplish this mission,” Ranasinghe added.
Andrew Richardson, Director of Aviation Sales at Mankiewicz Aviation Coatingsalso said in the press release: “We are pleased to have been easyJet’s coatings partner of choice for the past 15 years and to have worked on this technology-driven project. sustainability. Sustainability and stewardship of the environment are at the heart of Mankiewicz’s core values and being able to work closely with easyJet on this has been very rewarding.”
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