This new aircraft will not only deliver cost per seat saving when compared to easyJet’s existing 180 seat A320’s but will also support easyJet’s target to reduce its carbon emissions per passenger kilometre by 8% by 2020 compared to 2013.

It includes a number of new features such as galleys with a more modern design including much larger ovens so more food can be cooked simultaneously, a partition in front of row 1ABC providing privacy and more protection from the elements during boarding, a new fully wheelchair accessible toilet in the rear galley, new seat pockets, new carpets throughout the cabin and a new tray table design on which customers are able to stand a tablet device.

With the increased seating capacity, both the average seat pitch and minimum seat pitch across the fleet has remained the same. The configuration change has been achieved by using previously unused space at the rear of the aircraft.

Gary Smith, Business Lead for the new aircraft, commented:

“With the new aircraft configuration, we took the opportunity to look at all aspects of our cabin design and the result is a really clean, modern new look. We now have LED lighting throughout the cabin and an updated colour scheme. The new partition provides all front row passengers with an enhanced experience and allows our crew to take rest. The first of these aircraft has now been delivered and is flying to destinations across the entire easyJet network.”

“easyJet is the first A320 operator with the Spaceflex 2 configuration and all new A320 aircraft delivered will be fitted with 186 seats. Additionally, our existing fleet of 180 seat A320 aircraft will be retrofitted and upgraded. This aircraft is the most efficient of its type flying today both in terms of cost efficiency and in its emissions reduction.”

easyJet’s passengers’ carbon footprint is among the lowest in the industry at 81.05 grams CO2 per passenger kilometre. This has decreased by more than a quarter between 2001 and 2013 and the airline is already making good progress on its current target of a further 8% reduction between 2013 and 2020.

Six further 186 seat configuration A320’s will be delivered this coming summer and will be based out of London Gatwick. By the end of September 2016 easyJet will have eight 186 configuration aircraft in the fleet. Over the next two years all of easyJet’s A320’s will be retrofitted to 186 seats. The retrofit is expected to be completed by summer of 2018.

easyJet also began fitting aircraft with Recaro’s lightweight SL3510 seat in 2013 and all of easyJet’s A320s will be fitted with the new Recaro seat by summer 2018. The design provides more space and includes a tablet PC holder.