This week two aviation companies have announced products and improvements designed to increase fuel economy and cut emissions.
Boeing unveiled its 747-8 Intercontinental passenger jet, which boasts 16 percent less carbon emissions per passenger, a 16 percent better fuel economy and 30 percent smaller noise footprint than the Boeing 747-400.
The company said the 747-8 Intercontinental will be quieter, produce lower emissions and achieve better fuel economy than any competing jetliner.
Boeing also launched the 747-8 Freighter, which it said will achieve the same environmental benefits.
"The new 747-8 Intercontinental will set a new standard in economic and environmental performance,” said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager for airplane programs at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The 747-8 Intercontinental is the only airplane to serve the 400-500 seat market, Boeing said, with 467 seats. Meanwhile, the 747-8 Freighter stretches its predecessor the 747-400F by 18 feet, allowing the airplane to accommodate four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets.
Korean Air and Lufthansa are among customers joining an initial order of 33 of the aircraft. 747-8 Intercontinentals, with the first deliveries scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2011.
"As launch customer, we are looking forward to welcoming this new aircraft to our fleet next year as it adds to our ongoing fleet modernization and environmental efforts,” said Nico Buchholz, executive vice president of Lufthansa Group Fleet Management.
Meanwhile, easyJet said it is using a nano-technology coating on its aircraft to improve fuel efficiency, GreenBiz reported.
The coating could trim fuel consumption by as much as two percent while only adding four ounces of weight to the aircraft, easyJet said. The company will use the coating on eight airplanes during a 12-month trial.
EasyJet is among a handful of transportation companies setting the bar in carbon reduction initiatives and investments, according to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
But the global transportation sector is behind other industries in terms of setting goals to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption, the CDP said.