This article is based on an official press release from easyJet.

easyJet to Install Ultra-Lightweight Mirus Kestrel Seats on 237 New Aircraft

In a significant move toward operational efficiency and enhanced passenger comfort, easyJet has announced a major fleet upgrade featuring new ultra-lightweight economy seats. According to an official press release issued on March 23, 2026, the European low-cost carrier has partnered with UK-based manufacturer Mirus Aircraft Seating to install the “Kestrel” seat on 237 future Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft deliveries.

The new seating arrangement is projected to be over 20 percent lighter than easyJet’s current models. The airline states that this weight reduction will offer substantial environmental benefits, including an estimated annual reduction of over 40,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the ergonomic design of the Kestrel seat will provide passengers with up to two inches of additional legroom without altering the cabin’s overall seat pitch.

This announcement aligns with easyJet’s broader strategy under CEO Kenton Jarvis, who assumed leadership in January 2025, to focus heavily on data-led performance and Sustainability across the airline’s operations.

The Mirus Kestrel Seat: Specifications and Rollout

Fleet Integration and Timeline

According to the company’s announcement, the installation of the new Mirus Kestrel seats will commence in 2028, exclusively on new aircraft deliveries. The scale of the order is substantial, covering 237 incoming Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft. easyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis confirmed in the release that the airline will not retrofit older aircraft with the new seats. The decision to avoid retrofitting was attributed to the unnecessary expense and the environmental waste associated with removing perfectly functional existing seats.

Engineering and Weight Reduction

Mirus Aircraft Seating, founded in 2015, is known for blending aerospace and automotive engineering principles. The press release notes that the Kestrel seat weighs from just 6.9 kilograms per passenger when fully dressed. This specification makes it the lightest seat in its class and over 20 percent lighter than the seats currently utilized by easyJet. Additionally, the seats were developed and certified at Mirus’ UK-based MTEST facility, a localized approach that easyJet highlights as a way to reduce the carbon footprint typically associated with transporting seats overseas for external testing.

Environmental and Operational Impact

Fuel and Emissions Savings

Reducing the physical weight of an aircraft, a process known in the industry as “lightweighting”, is a primary method for Airlines to decrease fuel burn. easyJet reports that the Kestrel seats will save up to 500 kilograms of weight per aircraft on its larger models. This weight reduction translates to an estimated combined annual fuel saving of over 12,936 tonnes across the fleet. Consequently, the airline projects this will prevent over 40,513 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Beyond fuel savings, the seat is designed with lifecycle sustainability in mind. The manufacturer states that the Kestrel seat features a low part count and a simplified design to reduce maintenance requirements. At the end of its operational life, the seat is approximately 98 percent recyclable, supporting circular economy principles.

Broader Sustainability Initiatives at easyJet

The introduction of the Kestrel seat is part of a wider suite of marginal gains easyJet is employing to reach its net-zero by 2050 target. According to the provided company data, these initiatives include:

• NEO Fleet Expansion: Phasing out older A319 and A320ceo models in favor of NEO aircraft, which the airline states are at least 13 percent more fuel-efficient and 50 percent quieter.
• Sharklet Upgrades: Enhancing the A320ceo fleet with advanced wingtip devices by summer 2026 to reduce drag, which is projected to save roughly 970 tonnes of CO2 per aircraft annually.
• Lighter Paint: Rolling out a new lower-weight paint system by 2030, expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 4,095 tonnes across the fleet.
• SpaceFlex Upgrades: Starting in 2026, easyJet is rearranging rear galleys and lavatories on A320ceo aircraft to fit an extra row of seats, aiming to reduce carbon intensity per passenger.
• Digital Flight Manuals: Removing heavy physical manuals from the cockpit in favor of digitized versions to save additional weight.

Enhancing the Passenger Experience

Ergonomic Design for Extra Legroom

Despite operating as a low-cost carrier, easyJet emphasizes that the new seats will improve passenger comfort. The airline notes that passengers will gain up to two inches of additional legroom. This extra space is achieved without changing the actual seat pitch, the distance between rows. Instead, the Kestrel seat utilizes an ergonomic, pre-reclined structure fixed at a 22-degree angle, which improves knee and shin clearance for travelers.

Company leadership from both easyJet and Mirus highlighted the dual benefits of the Partnerships in their official statements.

“We are delighted to be introducing the Mirus Kestrel seat across our future fleet. 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.”

, David Morgan, Chief Operating Officer at easyJet

“Mirus is incredibly proud that easyJet, the UK’s largest airline and one of the world’s leading carriers, has placed its trust in us for what represents one of the largest single-model aircraft seat awards ever. This landmark agreement marks a defining moment for Mirus and reflects our shared commitment to enhancing passenger experience and comfort, while delivering sustainability and significant operational cost savings through reduced fuel burn and CO₂ emissions.”

, Ben McGuire, Chief Executive Officer at Mirus Aircraft Seating

AirPro News analysis

We view easyJet’s adoption of the Mirus Kestrel seat as a textbook example of the “marginal gains” strategy currently dominating commercial aviation. While the industry awaits the scaled commercialization of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and hydrogen propulsion, lightweighting remains one of the most immediate and controllable levers airlines can pull to reduce emissions and operational costs. Saving 500 kilograms per aircraft is a massive operational victory that directly impacts the bottom line through reduced fuel burn.

Furthermore, the partnership with a UK-based manufacturer like Mirus highlights a growing trend of localized supply chains. By keeping development, testing, and implementation within the UK, easyJet not only supports domestic aerospace manufacturing but also eliminates the Scope 3 emissions associated with shipping heavy aircraft components globally for certification. The fact that this operational efficiency also yields a tangible passenger benefit, two inches of extra legroom, makes it a rare win-win in the highly competitive low-cost carrier market.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will easyJet passengers start seeing the new seats?
The new Mirus Kestrel seats will begin rolling out in 2028 on new Airbus A320neo and A321neo deliveries.

Will older easyJet planes be retrofitted with these seats?
No. easyJet has confirmed it will not retrofit older aircraft, citing the financial cost and environmental waste of discarding functional seats.

How much weight does the new seat save?
The seats weigh 6.9 kg per passenger, saving up to 500 kg of total weight per aircraft on easyJet’s larger models.

Sources: easyJet Official Press Release