In a pioneering move, easyJet has quantified the CO2 emissions impact of inefficient European airspace. This landmark study aims to provide concrete evidence for the long-overdue need for reform.
Using AI technology, the airline monitored every flight over a year to assess how airspace inefficiency affects its operations and, by extension, airlines across Europe. The findings are startling: airspace inefficiencies increased CO2 emissions by 10.62%, equivalent to 663,710 tonnes of CO2, solely due to Europe’s current airspace system.
Extrapolating this data, easyJet estimates that modernizing European airspace could eliminate 18 million tonnes of CO2 annually. This figure underscores the significant potential for immediate and substantial carbon emission reductions in European aviation.
easyJet’s Flight Efficiencies team, led by industry experts, discovered that a large portion of this inefficiency occurs in terminal airspace. This is particularly evident during descent phases of commercial flight operations. This is largely attributed to outdated or poorly designed lower airspace.
UK Airspace Shows Greatest Inefficiencies
While airspace inefficiency is a Europe-wide issue, the UK showed the greatest inefficiencies in easyJet’s operations. Seven of the ten least efficient routes were inbound to London Gatwick, with Southeast England being particularly problematic due to high demand and capacity constraints.
However, with the UK having control over its airspace and the new Government pledging support for modernization, there’s hope for positive change. The UK could potentially become a global leader in airspace reform.
The countries most in need of improvement are the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, and Switzerland. For instance, flights between London Gatwick and Malpensa typically produce 19% excess emissions.
Overall: Key Factors Causing Inefficiency
Climb:
The easyJet analysis pinpointed London Gatwick, Milan Malpensa, Geneva, Naples, and Paris Charles de Gaulle as having the most inefficient departures.
To address this, a comprehensive airspace redesign is needed to support Continuous Climb Operations (CCO), allowing aircraft to reach cruising altitude more efficiently and with lower emissions.
Cruise:
Upper airspaces over Italy, United Kingdom, France, and Spain emerged as some of Europe’s most problematic regions.
These areas face significant inefficiencies due to outdated procedures, complex routing, and limited airspace flexibility. Expanding Cross-Border Free Route Airspace (FRA) Operations is crucial for enabling more direct routing and reduced fuel consumption.
Descent:
Significant inefficiencies were noted in the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, and France. Alarmingly, recently redesigned arrivals in London Luton and Milan Malpensa have proven less efficient than their predecessors, adding an average of 10 minutes to planned flight times.
This highlights the need for a more holistic approach to airspace design that prioritizes both efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
Solutions to the Problem
- Complete the UK airspace modernization programme, focusing on the southeast and establishing a single entity responsible for timely delivery.
- Implement Free Route Airspace in the UK and France to drive immediate efficiency improvements.
- Redesign lower airspace procedures, such as Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs) and Transitions.
- Implement Required Navigation Performance with Authorisation Required (RNP-AR) approaches at more airports.
- Prioritize the implementation of ATS B2 Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Contract (ADS-C) to enable Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO) before the 2027 mandate.
By implementing these changes, easyJet believes it will unlock over 10% efficiency gain in airspace operations. This means significantly reduced carbon emissions, contributing to a more sustainable aviation industry.
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