Easyjet says it is “making good progress on its technical and commercial evaluation of the next generation of short-haul aircraft technology”.
In its annual report released today, the low-cost carrier refers to next-generation single-aisle aircraft being developed by Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier, and says that “the new aircraft types, which are planned to enter service over the next six years, promise double digit fuel efficiency improvements which are clearly attractive to Easyjet”.
Easyjet says that following further evaluation it will bring a proposal to shareholders, “which will cover both the next generation of deliveries which are likely to be after 2017 and a plan for the bridging period from 2014 to 2017”.
The carrier currently operates an all-Airbus fleet of 214 A319 and A320 aircraft, having returned its remaining B737-700s to lessors in November last year.
Easyjet reported record full-year profits (before tax) of £317 million to the end of September 2012, up 27.9 per cent on 2011, and has also announced plans to operate flights between Manchester and Moscow from next spring (see online news November 20).
For more information visit easyjet.com.
Report by Mark Caswell