Editing EasyJet (section)

===Environment===

In June 2007, EasyJet announced plans for the construction of its airliner, dubbed ''EcoJet''. It was claimed to possess improved [[fuel efficiency]] over contemporary airliners. To achieve this, the EcoJet was described as using [[propfan]] engines, as well as being constructed with extensive use of [[carbon fibre]] [[composite material]]. At the time of the announcement, it was stated that the [[first flight]] was scheduled to occur sometime during 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/jun/14/theairlineindustry.business |title=EasyJet unveils 'ecoJet' |author=Dan Milmo |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 June 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.science20.com/the_science_of_motherhood/ecojet_the_prius_of_the_skies |title = EcoJet: The Prius of the Skies |website = science20.com |date = 2 October 2008}}</ref> Speaking at the time, EasyJet chief executive Andy Harrison commented that: "We have not developed a new concept. We have taken ideas from Boeing, Airbus and the engine manufacturers and put them together." Harrison claimed that the EcoJet, combined with other improvements in the industry, would enable a 50% reduction in [[greenhouse gas emissions]] within eight years.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.chinatravelnews.com/article/13114 |title = EasyJet unveils low-emission 'EcoJet' aircraft |first = Kimberly |last = Crandell |publisher = chinatravelnews.com |date = 19 June 2007}}</ref> However, there have been few announcements on the project since then.<ref name = "raeshort 2017"/> EasyJet then campaigned for the UK to replace [[air passenger duty]] (APD) with a new tax that would vary depending on distance travelled and aircraft type.<ref>{{cite news | last = Dunn | first = Graham | title = EasyJet urges new tax to replace air passenger duty as part of green push | work=[[Flight International]] | date = 18 September 2007 | url = http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/18/216842/EasyJet-urges-new-tax-to-replace-air-passenger-duty-as-part-of-green-push.html | access-date =8 February 2008}}</ref>

In July 2008, the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom Advertising Standards Authority]] (ASA) criticised a press campaign by the airline, over a misleading environmental claim that its aircraft released 22% fewer emissions than rival airlines. The figures used were not based on emissions produced by an EasyJet aircraft or emissions produced by the airline overall as the advertisement implied, and ASA declared that the airline had broken advertising rules. The judgement that followed reprimanded the airline in April 2007 after it made comments that its aircraft created 30% less pollution per passenger than some of its rivals.<ref>{{cite news | last = Sweney| first = Mark | title = EasyJet ads criticised over green claims |work=The Guardian |location=UK | date = 2 July 2008 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/02/advertising1 | access-date =22 February 2009 }}</ref>

In February 2011, the airline painted eight of its aircraft with a lightweight, thin "revolutionary nanotechnology coating" [[polymer]]. It works by reducing the build-up of debris and reduces [[drag (physics)|drag]] across the surface of the aircraft, thus reducing the fuel bill. It was estimated the airline could save 1–2% annually, equating to a £14 million reduction in fuel costs. The coating has already been used on US military aircraft and if successful EasyJet would apply the paint to its whole fleet.<ref>{{cite news |title=EasyJet paint job makes fuel bills less of a drag |first=Jonathan |last=Sumberg |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12428667 |work=BBC News |date=13 February 2011 |access-date=14 February 2011}}</ref> In late 2015, EasyJet started making use of [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) and [[big data]] for the purpose of improving efficiency, cutting costs, and enhancing the customer experience.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.ft.com/content/9017e37a-8c59-11e5-a549-b89a1dfede9b |title = EasyJet looks to AI to cut delays and deliver its bacon butties |first = Tanya |last = Powley |work = Financial Times|date = 16 November 2015}}</ref>

On 27 September 2017, EasyJet announced its partnership with an American start-up company [[Wright Electric]] with the purpose of developing and introducing a short-haul 120-seat all-electric airline.<ref name = "raeshort 2017"/> The propulsion system is said to comprise a series of eight electrically driven [[ducted fan]]s that are buried in the wings, which are powered by numerous [[Electric battery|battery]] packs distributed underneath the cabin floor; it is claimed to possess a range of roughly 335 miles, suitable for about one-fifth of EasyJet's current city routes, and facilitate zero-emission flights, as well as being 50% quieter and 10% less expensive to operate than conventional jet airliners. At the time, EasyJet stated that it intended to introduce electric aircraft into revenue service within 10 years.<ref name = "raeshort 2017">{{cite web |first = Tim |last = Robinson |url = https://www.aerosociety.com/news/can-easyjet-short-circuit-electric-airliner-flight/ |title = Can easyJet short circuit electric airliner flight? |publisher = Royal Aeronautical Society |date = 6 October 2017}}</ref> In October 2018, EasyJet stated that progress was being made on its electric ambitions and that the partnerships planned to test a nine-seater electric plane as early as 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.designboom.com/technology/easyjet-electric-plane-11-31-2018/ |title = easyjet will launch first electric plane in 2019 |publisher = designboom.com |date = 30 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/easyjet-ceo-electric/easyjet-makes-progress-with-electric-aircraft-plan-idUSL8N1X93FY |title = EasyJet makes progress with electric aircraft plan |publisher = Reuters |date = 29 October 2018}}</ref>

Since November 2019, EasyJet has offset the carbon emissions from all of its flights using [[carbon offset]]ting projects that meet either the Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) accreditation. As a result, it is the first major airline in the world to operate net-carbon-zero flights across its entire network.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Gwyn|last=Topham|date=19 November 2019|title=EasyJet to offset carbon emissions from all its flights|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/nov/19/easyjet-offset-carbon-emissions-flights-thomas-cook-collapse|access-date=2 December 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Carbon offsetting|url=https://www.easyjet.com/en/sustainability|access-date=2 December 2020|website=www.easyjet.com}}</ref> The airline describes this as an "interim" measure whilst the next generation of aircraft propulsion is developed. Consequently, EasyJet announced a partnership with Airbus on a joint research project into zero-emission hydrogen aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Editorial Board|date=23 September 2020|title=Sustainable flights, easyJet and Airbus work on zero-emission aircraft {{!}} SmartGreen Post {{!}} news from the environment|url=https://www.smartgreenpost.com/2020/09/23/sustainable-flights-easyjet-and-airbus-work-on-zero-emission-aircraft/|access-date=2 December 2020|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ZEROe|url=https://www.airbus.com/innovation/zero-emission/hydrogen/zeroe.html|access-date=2 December 2020|website=Airbus|language=en}}</ref>