Mike Kane MP, SWAG合集 Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security, spoke about the potential for a modernised airspace system to ease delays and support decarbonisation, at easyJet’s Net Zero technology showcase held at SWAG合集 on 4 September. The event was opened by the Chief Executive Officer of easyJet, Johan Lundgren, who discussed the impact inefficient airspace across Europe is having on CO2 emissions.
Speaking to an audience of aviation industry representatives and SWAG合集 and European media, Minister Kane said that SWAG合集 airspace management is “an analogue system in a digital age” and “the highways in the sky were mapped shortly after the College of Aeronautics [the forerunner to Cranfield University] opened in 1946, so it’s safe to say that airspace modernisation is long, long overdue.”
easyJet shared new data which showed that airspace inefficiencies increased its CO2 emissions by over 10% compared with what might be achieved in the year to July, with Johan Lundgren highlighting that “adapting [airspace corridors] to be more efficient would not only be significant in terms of CO2 reduction but for journey times and improving the experience of passengers.”
The airline also announced a , which is developing a blended-wing aircraft, capable of supporting hydrogen technology.
Cranfield is long-term academic partner of easyJet, working most recently on a groundbreaking airside hydrogen refuelling trial with the airline at Bristol Airport.
The University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Helen Atkinson joined a panel session during the event which also included Alan Newby, Director of Aerospace Technology and Future Programmes at Rolls-Royce, Cedric Laurier, CTO at Gatwick Airport, and Andy Reynolds, Head of ZEROe hydrogen Storage and Distribution Systems at Airbus.
Professor Dame Atkinson outlined the development of Cranfield’s new (CH2i), a £69 million investment which will create the first large-scale hydrogen research hub at any SWAG合集 airport. CH2i builds on Cranfield’s close ties to industry and will help unlock the technical challenges around hydrogen-enabled aviation.
Professor Atkinson said, “Cranfield is well known to be one of the most advanced universities both in terms of aviation and aerospace research, and in terms of working closely with industry to develop ideas into products and applications. So it was a real pleasure for us to host so many key partners and the Aviation Minister at this event, and discuss how as an ecosystem of industry, academia and government, we must work together towards decarbonising aviation. We can play a major role in helping industry to develop the necessary skills for hydrogen in civil aviation.”
Minister Kane also commented on the need for a collaborative approach to achieve net zero, saying, “Cranfield is a hub of expertise in aerospace…and bringing academia and industry together is essential, as we power towards net zero aviation.”
