easyJet bases LEAP-1A powered Airbus A320neo at London Gatwick

easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, has positioned a new LEAP-1A powered A320neo into London Gatwick where it will now be based. This is only the second A320neo in the easyJet fleet with the other joining earlier this month and based at London Luton.

Compared to previous aircraft, the NEO brings significant environmental and operational benefits – up to 15 percent saving in fuel burn and CO2 emissions, and a reduced noise footprint of 50 percent on take-off and landing phase providing a benefit to airport neighbourhood communities.

The aircraft is powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines and configured in a 186 seat layout.

Sophie Dekkers, UK Country Director said:

“We are pleased to be welcoming our first London Gatwick based neo to the fleet today. The A320neo is a major step change for our fleet efficiency and will provide a cost per seat saving of up to 7% over the current A320, which itself has a cost saving benefit of up to 8% over the A319 and this benefit will enable easyJet to continue to offer our famous low fares helping to connect people across Europe for work and play.

“We strive to do this in the right way by reducing our carbon and noise impact on the environment and local communities. By using modern Airbus aircraft and flying them efficiently we have reduced the carbon impact of our flights by a third since 2000.

“With the addition of the A320neo and A321neo to the future easyJet fleet and with further planned efficiency improvements easyJet has now set itself a new, tougher carbon emissions target of 72 grams by 2022. This is a 10% reduction from today’s performance and a 38% improvement from 2000.

“Since our first A320 family aircraft delivery in 2003, easyJet has grown to operate Europe’s largest A320 Family fleet with 300 aircraft delivered.

“With 130 NEO aircraft on order we are also Europe’s largest customer for this revolutionary new plane and really looking forward to operating the NEO and realising its cost, customer, carbon and noise benefits.”

Tim Norwood, Gatwick Airport’s Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, said:

“The introduction of the first A320neo to Gatwick – coming just one month after Gatwick was officially recognised as a carbon neutral airport – is another important milestone in our mission to become the most sustainable airport in the UK.

“The A320neo is a pioneering aircraft which is not only significantly more fuel efficient but its noise impact is half that of previous versions. EasyJet has 130 of these new quieter aircraft on order and their combined impact – in terms of a reduction in noise - will make an important difference to the local communities close to the airport.

“By working with easyJet to bring this aircraft to Gatwick , we once again demonstrate our ability to successfully balance growth with a reduced environmental footprint.”

In May 2017, easyJet announced it will convert 30 current A320neo orders to A321neo aircraft with a 235 seat configuration, with the first delivery expected in July 2018. This is part of the existing easyJet Airbus framework agreement signed in 2013.

The A321neo aircraft will enable easyJet to continue to grow in slot constrained airports with an increase in seats per flight of around 30% compared to an A320 and 50% when replacing an A319 while benefitting from the lowest operating costs in the single aisle aircraft category.

Since 2000, easyJet’s emissions have reduced by over 31% from 116.2 grams to 79.98 grams per passenger kilometre in 2016. easyJet’s current target is to reduce this to 77 grams by 2020. With the addition of the A321neo to the future easyJet fleet and with further planned efficiency improvements easyJet has set itself a new tougher carbon emissions target of 72 grams by 2022. This is a 10% reduction from today’s performance and a 38% improvement from 2000.

With more than 5,000 orders received from 92 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the market.

Last year over 16 million passengers flew easyJet in and out of London Gatwick. easyJet started flying from the airport in 1999 and now has 60 aircraft based there, operating on 110 routes. The airline has around 1400 cabin crew and 700 pilots operating from the Gatwick and plans to continue to grow at Gatwick by exploring new routes and deploying larger aircraft as easyJet replaces 156 seat A319s with 180 seat A320s and introduces these A320neos.