EasyJet is deploying its second new fuel efficient Airbus A230neo on routes from Gatwick.
The 186-seat aircraft cuts fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 15% and claims to reduce noise on take off and landing by 50%.
The aircraft is the second A320neo in the budget airline’s fleet with the other joining earlier this month based at Luton.
The airline’s UK country director Sophie Dekkers said: “The A320neo is a major step change for our fleet efficiency and will provide a cost per seat saving of up to 7% over the current A320, which itself has a cost saving benefit of up to 8% over the A319.
“This benefit will enable easyJet to continue to offer our famous low fares helping to connect people across Europe for work and play.
“We strive to do this in the right way by reducing our carbon and noise impact on the environment and local communities. By using modern Airbus aircraft and flying them efficiently we have reduced the carbon impact of our flights by a third since 2000.
“With the addition of the A320neo and A321neo to the future easyJet fleet and with further planned efficiency improvements easyJet has now set itself a new, tougher carbon emissions target of 72 grams by 2022.
“This is a 10% reduction from today’s performance and a 38% improvement from 2000.
“Since our first A320 family aircraft delivery in 2003, easyJet has grown to operate Europe’s largest A320 Family fleet with 300 aircraft delivered.
“With 130 Neo aircraft on order we are also Europe’s largest customer for this revolutionary new plane.”
Gatwick corporate affairs and sustainability director Tim Norwood added: “The introduction of the first A320neo to Gatwick – coming just one month after Gatwick was officially recognised as a carbon neutral airport – is another important milestone in our mission to become the most sustainable airport in the UK.
“The A320neo is a pioneering aircraft which is not only significantly more fuel efficient but its noise impact is half that of previous versions.
“By working with easyJet to bring this aircraft to Gatwick , we once again demonstrate our ability to successfully balance growth with a reduced environmental footprint.”
More than 16 million passengers flew easyJet in and out of Gatwick last year.