We love how low-cost carriers have revolutionised the travel industry, opening up far-flung cities and destinations to more people in an increasingly divided world.
But we wouldn’t say we actually love travelling on low-cost carriers. You spend far too much time fighting with your carry on to ensure you don’t have to check it, only for the real mental battle to begin when you sit down on an uncomfortable seat with no space to stretch out.
That might be about to change if your choice of budget airline is easyJet, however, as the carrier is rolling out new lighter seats that should offer up to two inches of additional legroom.
The British low-cost carrier, which is the second biggest in Europe, will be rolling out Kestrel economy seats across its future Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet from 2028.
According to the manufacturer, Mirus Aircraft Seating, the “ergonomic design allows passengers to enjoy improved legroom without changing seat pitch itself”. The seat is “pre-reclined”, meaning you get extra knee and shin clearance.
“We are delighted to be introducing the Mirus Kestrel seat across our future fleet,” says easyJet’s Chief Operating Officer David Morgan. “This investment supports our continued focus on making our operations as efficient as possible, capitalising on small incremental gains that result in meaningful reductions in fuel burn and Co2 emissions.
“On top of the sustainability benefits, the additional legroom and enhanced comfort these seats will provide will also deliver an improved onboard experience for our customers which we know they’ll love.”
Other changes being rolled out across easyJet
The new lighter seats are part of easyJet’s roadmap to net zero by 2050. As part of this, the airline is phasing out its oldest aircraft, including A319 and A320ceos, in favour of more efficient models such as the A320neo and A321neo.
While this change won’t be immediate, the airline is making changes to its current fleet to enhance efficiency.
From this year, the rear galley and toilets on a number of 180-seat A320ceos will be switched out for the more space-efficient SpaceFlex set-up, enabling an extra row of seats to be added on each aircraft.