A modernisation of Europe’s airspace could cut 18 million tonnes of aviation CO2 emissions a year, according to an analysis by easyJet.
The study of a projected airspace modernisation found easyJet alone could cut its emissions by more than 10% through reduced flight times and fuel consumption.
The easyJet analysis deployed AI to study the impact of airspace inefficiencies on CO2 emissions of all the airline’s flights over a 12-month period from June 2023 to July 2024.
The results suggest inefficient use of airspace led to a 10.62% increase in easyJet’s CO2 emissions over the year, or almost 664,000 tonnes of CO2.
It found excess carbon released during all phases of flights, but the with descent phase particularly inefficient due to poorly designed airspace around airports.
The study identified the UK, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland as the countries with the greatest need for improvement in airspace use.
The results, released at a Net Zero technology showcase event at Cranfield University today, saw easyJet appeal for “urgent reform” of airspace to harness the efficiency gains highlighted by the study.
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said: “Airspace modernisation is the quickest and most cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions, but the process is being shackled by needless bureaucracy.
“Our data proves the airspace corridors we use today, built in the 1950s, are simply no longer fit for purpose. Adapting them to be more efficient would not only be significant in terms of CO2 reduction but for journey times.”
He insisted: “This can’t be kicked down the road any further. Policymakers and regulators need to come together to find a route to unlock these significant gains now.”
Speaking at the launch of the study, aviation minister Mike Kane said: “EasyJet’s modelling shows how a modernised airspace system will help ease delays, support decarbonisation and reduce noise – supporting this government’s plan to boost economic growth.”
EasyJet highlighted the study as the first to calculate the full impact on emissions of inefficient use of airspace across Europe, noting it monitored “every single flight over a 12-month period to understand how airspace inefficiency is impacting operations”.
The analysis found “a significant proportion of inefficiency occurs around terminal airspace, particularly during descent, largely due to outdated or poorly designed lower airspace”.
But while airspace inefficiency is “universal” across Europe, it concluded: “The greatest inefficiencies were in the UK – with seven of the 10 least-efficient routes occurring inbound into Gatwick [and] the UK Southeast a particular problem area due to high demand and capacity constraints.”
The study identified easyJet flights between Gatwick and Milan Malpensa as most inefficient, typically producing 19% in excess emissions. Palma to Gatwick was the most inefficient easyJet route between Spain and the UK, Faro to Gatwick between Portugal and the UK, and Nice to Gatwick from France.
It also examined the areas of greatest inefficiency in the different phases of flight – during an aircraft’s climb, cruise and descent.
During the climbing phase, it identified Gatwick, Milan Malpensa, Geneva, Naples, and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports as having the most-inefficient departures and suggested the redesign of airspace to support Continuous Climb Operations (CCO), enabling aircraft to reach cruising altitude more efficiently.
In the cruise phase of flights, the study found the upper airspace over Italy, the UK, France and Spain to be “most problematic” with “significant inefficiencies due to outdated procedures, complex routing and limited airspace flexibility”.
During the descent of aircraft, it noted “inefficiencies are particularly notable in the UK, Italy, Switzerland and France, where arrival procedures result in extended flight times and increased fuel consumption”.
The study suggested recent changes to arrivals into Luton and Milan Malpensa airports had “proven less efficient than the previous procedures, adding an average 10 minutes to flight times due to overly complex procedures that prioritise controller workload over operational efficiency”.
EasyJet noted the new UK government has pledged to support plans for airspace modernisation already underway and urged ministers and the CAA “to complete the airspace modernisation programme in the UK with a focus on the southeast”.
In Europe, the carrier said it would “collaborate with individual countries, Air Navigation Service Providers and airports to identify ways to solve these inefficiencies”.