EasyJet has completed the installation of new navigation software on 54 aircraft to ease collaboration with air traffic control (ATC) staff.
The UK’s biggest airline said the system shares real time aircraft trajectory information with ATC providers, helping create more efficient route calculations.
The future air navigation system-C (Fans-C) software also involves instructions from ATC controllers to pilots – such as “climb to 36,000 feet” – to be relayed by text rather than radio, reducing the chances of misunderstandings or hold-ups.
EasyJet said it has retrofitted the programme on all 54 of its A320 and A321 neo family planes.
The carrier’s new jets rolling off the Airbus assembly line are equipped with the technology as standard.
EasyJet said the software has saved it 334 tonnes of fuel since it began using it in 2019.
It said last month French ATC disruption was responsible for the majority of its delays this summer.
David Morgan, chief operating officer at easyJet, said: “Technologies like Fans-C are not only essential for the modernisation of airspace, they will be critical in helping deliver meaningful reductions in fuel, carbon emissions and noise pollution.
“To maximise the potential of these technologies, it’s critical that airspace reform is finally delivered, and this means more direct routes to help reduce congestion and delays.
“The UK Government has taken positive steps to redesign UK airspace – we now need those plans delivered swiftly here and across Europe so we can properly harness these technologies and capitalise on the environmental benefits they will deliver.”
The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority are establishing a group of aviation experts to work with UK airports on modernising airspace.
It is hoped this UK Airspace Design Service will launch by the end of the year.
A radar-related issue was blamed for a UK ATC failure by provider Nats on July 30 which forced the cancellation of more than 150 flights, disrupting thousands of passengers.