Our pathway to Net Zero

In 2022, we launched our Roadmap – our ambition to reach net zero 2050.

In advance of that, we have also committed to reaching an interim, carbon emissions intensity improvement target of 35% by 2035, which has been validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). We’ve published our roadmap on how we plan to achieve both.

As the graphic above shows, our net zero roadmap is comprised of a number of different components which form part of a three pronged approach:

Reduce:

• Fleet renewal: we are introducing more modern NEO aircraft, which are at least 13% more fuel efficient and 50% quieter.
• Operational efficiencies: we are using techniques such as engine washing and single engine taxiing, and rolling out state-of-the-art technology such as Descent Profile Optimisation (DPO) software to make our operations more carbon efficient.
• Airspace Modernisation: as well as campaigning for airspace reform, we are using modern technologies like IRIS – a Satellite Communications system for Air Traffic Management – to fly more efficiently.

Replace:

• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): we will increasingly use SAF over the next few decades in accordance with various mandated requirements across the UK and EU. SAF is an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks that produces considerably lower carbon lifecycle emissions than conventional jet fuel. 
• Aircraft and airport technology: We are working hard to accelerate the development of future aircraft technology. For example, we have invested multi-millions of pounds into a research and development partnership with Rolls-Royce, which is helping develop future hydrogen-powered engine technology. We have also conducted trials on the ground to test the feasibility of using hydrogen within an airport environment such as our Project Acorn trial – the first hydrogen refuelling trial ever to take place at a major UK airport which is helping pave the way for the first industry regulation on hydrogen’s use at an airport.

Remove:

• Direct Air Carbon Capture & Storage (DACCS): We became the first airline in 2023 to sign up to Airbus’s carbon removal initiative with 1PointFive, which will play an important role in addressing our residual emissions in the future, complementing other components of our strategy to help us achieve our pathway to net zero.

Pioneering future travel

Ultimately, we believe that aviation needs to make radical changes and our ambition is to achieve zero carbon emission flying. Therefore, we are working with partners across the industry, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, and Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, to accelerate the development of zero carbon emission technologies such as hydrogen, so that, in the future, we can fly our passengers on aircraft which don’t create carbon emissions.

Together with Rolls-Royce, we are pioneering the development of hydrogen combustion engine technology, capable of also powering an easyJet sized aircraft in the future. Hydrogen has zero carbon emissions and the potential to also significantly reduce non-CO2 effects from aviation.

Our partnership has already achieved a world first by successfully running a modern aero engine on hydrogen and subsequent tests continue to show hydrogen’s potential as the fuel of the future for short-haul aviation

Reducing our impact today for a better tomorrow

We recognise that sustainability is a holistic issue, and it goes beyond the reduction of carbon emissions. That’s why we are focussing on all elements of environmental protection.

We continue to reduce the amount of plastic onboard our aircraft. For example, at the start of 2024, we have rolled out a new initiative that will see all our 14,000 crew switch from disposable cups and cutlery to reusable alternatives for their in-flight meals. This will help us reduce 10 million single use items and is just the latest example of how we’re working hard every day to reduce waste across our operations.

We are also working tirelessly to make our operations more fuel efficient and quieter. Our recent fleet-wide roll-out of Descent Profile Optimisation (DPO) helps us to minimise fuel burn and emissions during descent to a destination airport. Investment into this technology helped us reduce CO2 emissions by over 88,000 tonnes last year. Our complementary use of Continuous Descent Arrival (CDA) technology is also helping us reduce fuel use as well as helping reduce noise impact on the ground.

Thanks to achieving IATA IEnvA Stage 2 accreditation, we were the first low cost carrier worldwide to have a fully IATA IEnvA certified Environmental Management System (EMS).

From 1 January 2023 we introduced a voluntary option for our customers to actively contribute towards climate projects that are helping to reduce emissions from the atmosphere. Find out more at HERE.

For more information on the measures we are taking to reduce our carbon emissions please view the sustainability chapter of our annual report.