Weight is the most important parameter for airlines to keep under control for their aircraft. Any non essential weight translated into a cost which will never generate any revenue. This is something that low-cost and full service airlines alike are constantly trying to improve on. Just think of how small and light economy class seats have become over the years. However, undeniably budget airlines with their business model based on cutting any excess cost are the one pushing harder the boundaries of innovation. Exactly as easyJet has done with it latest trial. Oversimplifying it, easyJet put its planes on a paint diet. Here’s what I mean.
easyJet Experimenting New Lower Weight Paint For Its Fleet
You might not think of it all that much but an aircraft’s paint job can be quite heavy. The paint on an aircraft such as the A320, used by easyJet, can weigh up to 250kg. That is quite a bit of weight.
The British low-cost carrier has collaborated with Mankiewicz Aviation Coatings to develop a new aviation paint formula that allows to reduce the aircrafts’ paint weight.
By applying this newly developed paint the airline is able to reduce overall weight and therefore save on fuel burnt to fly the aircraft.
Currently it has already applied the new coating to 38 of its planes. However that number is destined to grow over the next years. The airline intends to coat the entirety of its fleet by 2030.
Marginal Savings On One Plane – Huge on The easyJet Massive Fleet
Now let’s tap into what the projected savings are, when the new coat of paint is applied. The airline states that is quantifies the weight reduction in approximately 27kg on each of its planes by applying the new paint. That doesn’t sound like much, and it isn’t.
However we have to look at the bigger picture. A marginal improvement of this sort applied to the massive scale of easyJet operations can turn into so interesting money saved. The airline operates a fleet comprised in excess of 350 planes, those planes fly on average 3 or 4 flights per day, you might start to see how those 27 kg start to make a lot more sense now.