Could a new lightweight paint solution help reduce carbon emissions?
January 3, 2025
It is a bold claim, but easyJet says it is saving fuel and reducing carbon emissions by pioneering a new lower-weight paint process from manufacturer Mankiewicz Aviation Coatings.
easyJet has coated 38 of its aircraft in the new paint, which it says are already delivering fuel savings thanks to their lighter weight. The system has resulted in a 27kg weight reduction for each of the airline’s Airbus A320 family aircraft. Once rolled out across the entire fleet by 2029, it is expected to account for a 1,296 tonne fuel reduction overall.
While easyJet admits the lighter weight coat of paint generates a relatively modest impact per plane, when complemented by other fuel reduction methods it could provide an important pathway to reducing carbon emissions for the sector. “While this forms a small part of a bigger strategy, formulating a new lightweight paint with our partners at Mankiewicz Aviation Coatings exemplifies how we’re assessing every single part of our operation to find efficiency gains to help us achieve this mission,” said Lahiru Ranasinghe, easyJet’s new director of sustainability.
The move makes easyJet the first airline in the world to trial the new paint solution with Dublin-headquartered MRO specialist, MAAS Aviation, painting the aircraft at its Maastricht facility. Richard Marston, chief commercial officer at MAAS Aviation, echoed Ranasinghe’s comments saying: “Environmental responsibility is taken extremely seriously at MAAS and we are committed to using the latest technology products that deliver the highest standards of performance and finish, while reducing the impact on the world around us.”
Net zero by 2050
easyJet’s roadmap to net zero by 2050, which was published in 2022, features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, sustainable aviation fuel and carbon removal technologies. With an ambitious interim carbon emissions reduction target of 35% by 2035, the airline has already successfully reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third.
