easyJet has pioneered the aviation industry’s first ultra-lightweight paint system, marking a significant step forward in fuel efficiency improvements.
The lower-weight paint system comes from manufacturer Mankiewicz Aviation Coatings. It is predicted to enable fuel savings of up to 1,296 tonnes and 4,095 tonnes of CO2e once rolled out fleet wide.
Rollout of New Paint Scheme
The innovative paint technology, developed in partnership with Mankiewicz Aviation Coatings, promises significant cost and environmental benefits.
It is expected to reduce fuel consumption by 1,296 tonnes and cut CO2 emissions by 4,095 tonnes once implemented across the entire fleet.
This breakthrough represents a significant advancement in aviation sustainability technology, showing how even seemingly small changes can lead to substantial environmental benefits.
The groundbreaking system creates easyJet’s signature livery colors while using less paint than traditional methods.
So far, 38 aircraft have received the new coating, with plans to extend it to the whole fleet by 2030. The systematic rollout ensures minimal disruption to regular operations while steadily progressing toward environmental goals.
Though each aircraft sees a modest weight reduction of 27kg, the cumulative impact becomes substantial when combined with other fuel-saving initiatives.
This innovation represents one of many steps easyJet is taking to decrease its environmental footprint. The airline’s comprehensive approach to sustainability demonstrates how multiple small improvements can create significant positive change.
Expected Cost and Environmental Benefits
The 38 aircraft already sporting the lightweight paint are demonstrating real fuel savings in daily operations.
When applied across the entire fleet, the technology will help reduce fuel consumption by 1,296 tonnes, leading to a 4,095-tonne decrease in carbon emissions. These concrete results validate the effectiveness of the new paint system and its potential for industry-wide impact.
This initiative aligns with easyJet’s broader sustainability strategy and journey toward net zero emissions.
By late 2029, the complete rollout is expected to yield annual fuel savings of 1,296 tonnes, contributing to the airline’s ambitious environmental targets and demonstrating its long-term commitment to sustainable aviation.
Lahiru Ranasinghe, easyJet’s Director of Sustainability, emphasized their commitment to innovation. “We continuously seek new solutions to reduce our environmental impact. This paint system is one piece of a larger strategy. It demonstrates how we scrutinize every aspect of our operations to improve efficiency and achieve our environmental goals.”
Andrew Richardson from Mankiewicz Aviation Coatings shared his perspective. “As easyJet’s coating partner for 15 years, we’re proud to contribute to this sustainability initiative.”
“Environmental stewardship is central to our values, and collaborating with easyJet on this project has been deeply rewarding. The success of this project showcases the potential for technical innovation in aviation sustainability.”
MAAS Aviation’s Chief Commercial Officer, Richard Marston, added: “Environmental responsibility drives our operations.”
“We collaborate with suppliers to implement cutting-edge technologies that deliver exceptional performance while minimizing environmental impact. This pioneering initiative makes us particularly proud and sets new standards for the industry.”
Summary
In the two years since launching its net zero roadmap, easyJet has achieved several environmental milestones.
Recent successes include completing the fleet-wide installation of Descent Profile Optimisation (DPO) software and achieving a new record in reducing carbon intensity during FY24 compared to their 2019 baseline year.
These achievements underscore the airline’s comprehensive approach to environmental responsibility and its commitment to leading the aviation industry toward a more sustainable future.
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