easyJet completes FANS-C upgrade

easyJet has finished retrofitting FANS-C technology on 54 of its A320 and A321neo-family aircraft. All new deliveries from Airbus will now arrive with the system installed as standard.

FANS-C, a form of advanced traffic management software, improves collaboration between pilots and air traffic controllers. It allows faster communication, optimised in-flight trajectories and more accurate speed management during all phases of a journey.

With European airspace becoming increasingly crowded, delays are a frequent problem. FANS-C tackles this by sending precise trajectory data to air traffic control in a reliable, flexible and secure way. The result is better predictability, fewer holding patterns, faster clearances and more punctual landings.

David Morgan, easyJet’s Chief Operating Officer, said such technologies are vital for modernising airspace and reducing fuel use, carbon emissions, and noise pollution. He stressed that full benefits require airspace reform, including more direct routing. The UK government has begun redesigning national airspace, but Morgan urged swift delivery of these plans across the UK and Europe.

Since its introduction in 2019, FANS-C has saved the airline 1,052 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and 334 tonnes of fuel in Eurocontrol’s Maastricht Upper Area Control region. Additional savings are expected as more air navigation service providers upgrade their systems, a requirement across the EU by 2028.

The technology forms part of easyJet’s wider environmental strategy, launched in 2022, to reduce and decarbonise its operations. This includes investing in new aircraft, improving fuel efficiency, and minimising emissions on the ground and in the air.

By deploying FANS-C fleet-wide, easyJet aims to improve on-time performance, cut its environmental footprint, and prepare for a more integrated and efficient European airspace system. With regulatory changes on the horizon, the airline expects its investment to deliver growing operational and environmental gains in the years ahead.