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LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - British airline easyJet has moved
a step closer to commercial electric flying on short-haul routes
after its partner said it would begin development of engines for
its electric narrow-body aircraft.
Fully electric planes will only be able to fly relatively
short distances, but could be a key part of the aviation
industry's bid to cut its carbon emissions.
Wright Electric said on Thursday it was working to develop
electrical systems that were big enough for a commercial flight
of its 186-seat electric aircraft, and would build a 1.5
megawatt electric motor.
EasyJet wants electric planes to fly routes of about 500 km,
which means it could use the aircraft on London to Amsterdam,
Europe’s second-busiest route.
It partnered with Wright Electric in 2017 to explore the
prospects for short-haul electric commercial flying. Wright said
it intended to conduct ground tests of its motor in 2021 and
flight tests in 2023.
"This is another crucial step for our partner Wright
Electric to move towards the introduction of commercial electric
aircraft and it is exciting to see their ambitious timeline for
testing and entry into service," easyJet Chief Executive Johan
Lundgren said.
The aviation industry is under pressure to find more
sustainable ways of operating as environmental groups encourage
people not to fly and seek greener alternatives.
The Swedish-born "flight shaming" movement, led by activists
including teenager Greta Thunberg, has weakened demand for air
travel in Europe over the last year.
Lundgren, who is also from Sweden, announced last year that
easyJet would pay for carbon-offsetting of all its flights but
said that such measures were only an interim solution until new
technologies were developed.
"We know it is important to our customers that we operate as
sustainably as possible," he said.
"We can see more clearly than ever a future that is not
exclusively reliant on jet fuel."
(Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Stephen Addison)
