Europe-based global major aerospace group Airbus reported on Monday that UK-based short-haul low-cost carrier easyJet had decided to upgrade the control systems of its fleet of more than 300 A320-family single-aisle airliners. These will be all be equipped with Airbus’ Descent Profile Optimisation (DPO), while those that are compatible with it will also be fitted with Continuous Descent Approach (CDA), systems.

The DPO is an upgrade to the aircraft Flight Management System performance database, which will reduce fuel consumption. The fleet upgrade will be completed by the end of next year.

“While our ultimate ambition is to achieve zero-carbon-emission flying, we must continue our focus on reducing the carbon emissions in our operation each and every day,” affirmed easyJet interim COO Captain David Morgan. “That’s why this multimillion-pound investment is an important step in achieving a permanent reduction in the short term which will see us operating the largest fleet of DPO- and CDA-enabled aircraft in the world. But one crucial element to reduce carbon emissions right now cannot be achieved by the industry alone, and so we are also calling on governments to introduce airspace modernisation right now, including finally implementing the Single European Sky.”

DPO and CDA allow aircraft to descend from their cruise altitudes, to land at their destinations, using only 'idle thrust’ from their engines, idle thrust being the lowest setting available in an aircraft engine control system. This reduces fuel consumption and so also both carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions. It also reduces aircraft noise levels.

If these enhancements are combined with the optimisation, by air traffic control, of the aircraft’s descent trajectory, even more fuel will be saved and deeper reductions achieved in CO₂ and NOx emissions. For easyJet, the combination of DPO and CDA with optimised descent trajectories would save the airline more than 98 000 kg of fuel across its European network. This would cut annual CO₂ emissions by more than 311 t per airliner, or 88 600 t for the entire A320-family fleet.

“We are very pleased that easyJet will equip its entire Airbus A320-family-fleet with these state-of-the-art technologies,” said Airbus executive VP: region and sales Europe Wouter Van Wersch. “Emission reduction in aviation is most successfully achieved as a team effort – aircraft manufacturers joining forces with airlines and air traffic management. By combining the use of DPO and CDA, easyJet will further reduce its fuel consumption while optimising the trajectory of all its flights.”