easyJet and Airbus sign hybrid and electric aircraft research agreement

• Collaboration supports a joint vision to decarbonise aviation

easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, and Airbus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to a joint research project on hybrid and electric aircraft.

The MoU is an important step towards furthering the industry’s understanding of the operational and infrastructure opportunities and challenges of plug-in hybrid and full electric aircraft.

easyJet and Airbus will cooperate on three distinct work packages set to define the impacts and the requirements necessary for the large-scale introduction of next generation sustainable aircraft on infrastructure and every-day commercial aircraft operations.

Commenting on the partnership, Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said: “easyJet has a long tradition of efficient flying and a long-term partnership with Airbus. Our priority is to continue to work on reducing our carbon footprint in the short-term while we work to support the development of new technology, including hybrid-electric planes which promise to radically reduce the carbon footprint of aviation.   

“I am therefore delighted to be working with Airbus on a new hybrid and electric plane research partnership. The project will aim to identify the detailed technical challenges and requirements for hybrid and electric planes when deployed for short haul flying around Europe so that we can help shape the technology and airline networks of the future. We hope this will be an important step towards making hybrid electric planes a reality.”

“Environmental performance is a top-level priority for Airbus, and we are proud to have easyJet on board as a partner for our hybrid and electric aircraft research,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. “Airbus is committed to meeting aviation’s decarbonisation objectives. By focusing our research efforts on hybrid and electric propulsion technologies, we are doing just that – playing a leading role, alongside our customers, in the development of clean and safe technologies for the sustainable future of our industry.”

This collaboration supports the work already underway with easyJet partner and US start-up company, Wright Electric, which will continue alongside the Airbus collaboration.
Wright Electric has set itself the challenge of building an all-electric commercial passenger jet capable of flying passengers across easyJet’s UK and European network within a decade. It has commenced work on an electric engine that will power a nine seater aircraft. Wright Electric partner Axter Aerospace already has a two seater aircraft flying, and the larger aircraft is expected to start flying in the coming weeks. The prototype propulsion system for the nine-seat aircraft is four times more powerful than the system installed on the two-seat aircraft.

In addition to these initiatives, easyJet remains focused on operating its fleet as efficiently as possible using modern fuel efficient engines which are quieter and burn less fuel as well as carrying as many passengers as possible in the aircraft.

Pioneering has always been a core element of the airline’s strategy and since 2000 easyJet has reduced its carbon emissions per passenger per kilometre by over one-third (33.67%).

easyJet, has also announced today that it will become the world’s first major airline to operate net-zero carbon flights across its whole network. The airline will achieve this goal by offsetting the carbon emissions from the fuel used for all of its flights, starting today.

For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office on 01582 525252, log onto www.easyjet.com or follow @easyJet_Press

About easyJet
easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service.
 
easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline and carries more than 90 million passengers annually - around 15 million of which are travelling on business. easyJet flies over 329 aircraft on 1036 routes to 161 airports across 35 countries. Over 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport.
 
easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in eight countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports a number of local charities and also has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £13m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.
 
The airline takes sustainability seriously and invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats. This means since 2000 easyJet has reduced the carbon emissions for each kilometre flown by a passenger by over one third (33.67%) and is on track to meet its target of a 38% reduction by 2022.
 
Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – from our launch over 20 years ago when we changed the way people fly to the present day where we lead the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for our passengers.