easyJet has announced a multi-million-pound fleet-wide investment in the latest aircraft software which will help the airline to achieve substantial carbon emission reductions in the short-term by enabling the optimisation of aircraft descents.

The fleet-wide introduction of Descent Profile Optimisation (DPO) alongside the Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) on all compatible aircraft will deliver fuel and therefore carbon reductions, as well as noise reductions for aircraft also equipped with CDA.

Annual carbon emission reduction of 88,600 CO2 MT

By this time next year, once the retrofit is completed, easyJet will have the largest fleet of DPO and CDA enabled aircraft in the world leading to an estimated annual carbon emission reduction of 88,600 CO2 MT – which is equivalent to driving an average car 16,173 times around the earth.

Descent Profile Optimisation (DPO) is a fuel saving initiative which updates the Flight Management System (FMS) to enable consistently more efficient descents by allowing the aircraft to remain in the cruise phase longer and reduce deceleration level-off, which reduces carbon emissions.

CDA also minimises noise pollution on the approach, which particularly benefits communities around airports.

Permanent reduction in the short term

Captain David Morgan, easyJet’s interim COO, said: “While our ultimate ambition is to achieve zero carbon emission flying, we must continue our focus on reducing the carbon emissions in our operation each and every day. That’s why this multi-million-pound investment is an important step in achieving a permanent reduction in the short-term which will see us operating the largest fleet of DPO & CDA enabled aircraft in the world.

“But one crucial element to reduce carbon emissions right now cannot be achieved by the industry alone, and so we are also calling on governments to introduce airspace modernisation right now, including finally implementing the Single European Sky.”

Wouter Van Wersch, Airbus’ Executive Vice President, Region and Sales Europe, said: “We are very pleased that easyJet will equip its entire Airbus A320-family-fleet with these state-of-the-art technologies. Emission reduction in aviation is most successfully achieved as a team effort – aircraft manufacturers joining forces with airlines and air traffic management. By combining the use of DPO and CDA, easyJet will further reduce its fuel consumption while optimising the trajectory of all its flights.”
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