New analysis from easyJet has found that inefficient airspace contributes to significant and unnecessary increases in fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and flight times across Europe.

In an industry first, easyJet has calculated the impact inefficient airspace across Europe is having on CO2 emissions, in a bid to finally evidence why reform is so badly needed and long overdue.

Using AI, the airline monitored every single one of its flights over a 12-month period* to understand how airspace inefficiency is impacting its operations and therefore the operations of airlines across Europe.

The results revealed that airspace inefficiencies increased CO2 emissions by 10.62% – equivalent to 663,710 tonnes CO2 – all because of the current airspace regime across Europe.

Applying its analysis to the whole of European aviation, easyJet estimates that airspace modernisation could help eliminate 18 million tonnes of CO2** from European skies every year, a figure that reveals the size of this opportunity – and one that could be a significant route to creating an immediate and meaningful carbon emissions reduction across European aviation.

The analysis, conducted by leading experts in easyJet’s Flight Efficiencies team, found that a significant proportion of this inefficiency occurs around terminal airspace, particularly during descent, which is largely due to outdated or poorly designed lower airspace.

While airspace inefficiency is a universal issue across the whole of Europe, the greatest inefficiencies for easyJet’s operations were in the UK – with 7 of the 10 least efficient routes occurring inbound into London Gatwick, with the South East of the UK a particular problem area due to high demand and capacity constraints.

However, with the UK having jurisdiction over its airspace, and the new Government having pledged in its manifesto to support the modernisation of UK airspace , there is hope that these changes are closer to being achieved than ever before and that the UK can become an international leader in driving airspace reform.

https://www.easyjet.com/