EasyJet unveiled as first airline partner of Iris programme

EasyJet will be the first airline partner of Inmarsat and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Iris programme, which utilises the latest-generation satellite technology to modernise air traffic management.

EasyJet will play a central role in the Iris programme, which enables real-time collaboration between pilots, air traffic controllers and airline operation centres. The programme uses secure, high-bandwidth data links, minimising delays, saving fuel, reducing environmental impact for airlines and improving airspace usage to ease congestion and accommodate future growth.

The programme is powered by Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband-Safety connectivity platform and enables new air traffic management functionalities such as trajectory-based operations that pinpoint aircraft in four dimensions (latitude, longitude, altitude and time), which will allow the airline to avoid holding patterns, calculate the shortest available routes and optimum altitudes, and benefit from continuous climb and descent pathways.

EasyJet will evaluate Iris’ transformative capabilities on up to 11 Airbus A320neos which are set to begin flying from November 2022.

With over €50 million investment by ESA, Inmarsat and more than 30 partners to develop the programme, Iris also supports easyJet’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 as part of the UN-backed ‘Race to Zero’ campaign, with an interim target of a 35% carbon emissions intensity improvement by 2035.

Philippe Carette, President of Inmarsat Aviation commented: “The Iris programme from Inmarsat and ESA is a game-changer and we are delighted to have easyJet as our first airline partner. This is not only because of its pioneering commitment to innovation and reducing aviation’s environmental impact, but also because this kick-starts an exciting new era that will help make aviation greener and reduce congestion delays for passengers.”