EasyJet: We’ll have electric plane in 10 years

EASYJET hopes to be flying electric planes within a decade, in a move that could eventually cut fares.

The budget airline is working with the US firm Wright Electric to develop battery-propelled planes for short flights.

These planes – which would cut emissions, noise and fuel consumption – could be used on short-haul routes such as London to Paris or Edinburgh to Bristol.

The goal is for them to have a range of 335 miles, which would cover a fifth of passengers flown by EasyJet today.

Some experts say battery-powered commercial jets are not viable – as carmakers struggle to build electric vehicles with a range of more than 200 miles.

But EasyJet and Wright Electric hope to develop a fully electric plane within a decade, and want every short-haul flight to be battery-powered within 20 years.

EasyJet chief Dame Carolyn McCall said: ‘It is now more a matter of when, not if, a short-haul electric plane will fly.’

Wright Electric believes electric planes will be up to 50 per cent quieter and 10 per cent cheaper for airlines to buy and operate.

These savings could then be passed on to passengers.