EasyJet aims for 'greener' skies

At the moment it's only a model but the budget airline EasyJet claims that a revolutionary eco-friendly plane design could take to the skies in just eight years time.

The budget airliner EasyJet says it wants to slash carbon emissions from its planes in half by 2015 - and it has built a model "eco-friendly" jet, that it claims will do just that. All that it will take is someone to build it.

The company says the aircraft would emit 50 per cent less carbon dioxide and 75 per cent less carbon monoxide than current planes; it also incorporates the latest engine technology to make it much quieter.

However, green groups say the only way to really reduce harmful emmissions is to fly less. So, could this be an example of technology coming to the rescue of the planet - or just a way of taking some of the guilt out of cheap flights?

We were joined by the chief executive of easyJet, Andy Harrison to answer our questions:

What's so special about this plane?

This aircraft offers the next improvement in technology with revolutionary 'open engine' engines that will produce 25 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency.

The aircraft will be made of lighter materials making it 15 per cent more fuel efficient.

EasyJet doesn't make planes - so who's going to build it?

We are in active conversation with both Boeing and Airbus and the engine manufacturers, so this is not a concept, this is a technology. This aircraft will happen.

Even if each aircraft is emitting less, the number of planes in the skies is increasing.

Aviation is growing about 5 per cent per annum. The current generation of aircraft is already 20 per cent more efficient than the last generation and this next generation is going to be 50 per cent. So we think it is possible to combine growth with environmental performance.

When are we going to see that improvement?

This aircraft can be in service by 2015. Both Boeing and Airbus are actively looking at building the next generation of aircraft which could well look like our model.

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