EasyJet Completes Fleetwide Fuel-, Noise-Reducing Technology Retrofit

EasyJet said it has completed a fuel- and noise-reducing retrofit program which means Airbus’s Descent Profile Optimization (DPO) technology is now in place across its fleet, while compatible newer aircraft are equipped with Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) technology.

The fleetwide retrofit will enable easyJet to make a permanent fuel saving of up to 88,600 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, based on its 2024 forecasts, the UK-based carrier said. 

The airline had announced the retrofit program last year as part of its 2050 net-zero roadmap. “It will help easyJet achieve considerable and permanent carbon emission reductions in the short-term by enabling more optimized descent trajectories,” the airline said Oct. 23.

The DPO technology saves fuel by updating the aircraft’s Flight Management System (FMS) to enable consistently more efficient descents as the aircraft can remain in the cruise phase longer and the “level-off” stage at the bottom of the descent is removed, reducing carbon emissions. CDA works in tandem with DPO to reduce noise. 

The airline said that fitted in with tightening noise regulations that are starting to be enforced around airports. 

In Amsterdam, the Dutch government is seeking to push through controversial plans to reduce noise at Schiphol airport, by limiting flight capacity and other European countries are looking into the issue of noise at airports too. 

EasyJet COO David Morgan said: “While this is one initiative of many outlined in our roadmap to net-zero, it provides a permanent CO2 saving and forms another step on the way to us realizing our net-zero target.”

The airline took the opportunity to call for more modernization of Europe’s airspace, an issue airlines have been highlighting in recent years as pressure to decarbonize grows. Airlines say pushing forward Single European Sky reforms could result in an industry-wide fuel savings of around 10%.

“While technologies like DPO and CDA are the best solution for more optimized descent trajectories in the here and now—more needs to be done by governments and policymakers to ensure that our airspace is modernized, including implementing Single European Sky, so that this state-of-the-art technology can be used to its full potential,” Morgan said. 

“These innovative solutions developed at Airbus enable airlines to increase fuel savings and reduce emissions during operations,” said Nicolas Chretien, SVP of sustainability and environment at Airbus.