EasyJet is trialling a new paint job in an effort to save money. The budget carrier claims it will be the first commercial airline to trial what it calls a “revolutionary nano-technology coating”.
EasyJet hopes it will reduce drag as the aircraft flies through the air, increasing fuel efficiency and saving money. The polymer coating is applied and distributed in the UK by an organisation called TripleO.
The manufacturers say it could lower Easyjet’s fuel consumption by up to 2%. The carrier estimates it could have saved £14 million from its 2010 fuel costs of more than £730 million if the polymer had been applied across the fleet.
Chief executive Carolyn McCall said: “If we can find new ways of reducing the amount of fuel used by our aircraft, we can pass the benefits on to our passengers by offering them low fares and a lower carbon footprint.
“Innovation and efficiency is at the DNA of everything Easyjet has ever done. This plays to both of those things. We don’t know it will definitely cut 1% to 2% off our fuel bill, but that is what we are being told is possible.”
The airline declined to say how much it costs to coat each plane, but Ms McCall said “even a 1% saving on our fuel bill and 1% less in our carbon emissions is worth doing”.