EasyJet promotes new "green" aircraft design

By Pete Harrison

LONDON (Reuters) - British low-cost airline easyJet (EZJ.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has unveiled its vision of a short haul aircraft that it hopes will generate 50 percent less CO2 than its current planes and can be delivered by 2015.

The narrow-bodied plane would have two open rotor engines above a wide tail fin, with a lightweight body constructed of carbon composites.

"This is not Star Trek technology," easyJet Chief Executive Andy Harrison told reporters on Thursday.

"This is technology that is well within our reach. We are talking to Boeing and Airbus. We are working with manufacturers to get this aircraft delivered in 2015."

"We are currently spending 4 billion pounds ($7.88 billion) on aircraft -- they are listening to us," he added.

His remarks came as the head of European plane maker Airbus (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) separately proposed a top-level gathering of aerospace groups, including its U.S rival, Boeing Co. (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), to step up efforts to cut air travel pollution.

EasyJet's plans would put the airline five years ahead of CO2 cuts targeted by aviation body ACARE of 50 percent by 2020, although it plans to more than double its fleet size by then.

Easyjet said 25 percent of CO2 emissions would be cut by using open rotor engines, which must be placed above the tail due to their size, while 15 percent would be cut by using the lighter airframe and 10 percent by air traffic control improvements.