Norwegian adds new tool to reduce CO2 emissions by 140,000 tons per year

Reducing CO2 emissions is one of the most important tasks for the aviation industry. Using new technology and new, modern aircraft, Norwegian has reduced emissions by 30 percent since 2008. With the new ‘SkyBreathe’ tool, emissions can be reduced by 140,000 tons per year.

Norwegian will incorporate SkyBreathe, a fuel efficiency tool which analyses the entire flight operations, making it possible to optimise flights and further reduce fuel consumption leading to lower emissions. With the new tool, Norwegian seeks to reduce emissions by 140,000 tons per year.

The SkyBreathe app leverages Big Data algorithms developed through an EU-funded Clean Sky project, to ascertain the amount of fuel consumption on every flight, factoring in actual flight conditions and other variables (Payload, weather conditions, flight path, Air Traffic Control constraints, etc.).

Stig Patey, Manager Fuel Saving at Norwegian said: “At Norwegian, we’re continuously working to find new tools to reduce both CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. With the SkyBreathe app, we receive large amounts of data for each flight and this data provides relevant information about how we can fly smarter and even more efficiently.”

After six months of testing with Norwegian pilots, the app proved to be effective with the potential to save large amounts of fuel per year. For example, by turning off one of the engines when taxiing to gate, 20 kilos of fuel can be saved on each flight. Other examples are so-called Green Approaches* and using the brakes instead of engine reverse thrust when slowing the aircraft after landing can help reduce fuel usage. SkyBreathe enables Norwegian to save up to 3,700 tons of fuel and reduce CO2 emission by 11,600 tons per month or 140,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

Fergus Rak, Base Chief Captain at London Gatwick said: “With the SkyBreathe app, we receive instant feedback after each flight where we can easily see how we have performed, what we have done well and what we can improve for the next flight. This is a smart tool that benefits both us and the environment.”

Norwegian has been named the Most Fuel-Efficient Airline on Transatlantic Routes by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) twice. Since 2008, the airline has reduced emissions by 30 percent by utilising new technology and operating a young fleet.

For more information on Norwegian’s sustainability practices, please visit the website.

*Green Approaches (Continuous Descent Approaches (CDAs)) reduce both CO2 emissions and noise during the final phase of the flight.