Frontier Airlines debuted its latest Airbus A320neo plane on Tuesday, sporting seats 30% lighter to aid in fuel efficiency and further its mission as “America’s Greenest Airline.”
The company announced in a readout on March 23 that the new airbus made its first commercial flight from Orlando International Airport in Florida to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
“This new aircraft, which is the 105th in our fleet, represents a significant milestone in Frontier’s commitment to being America’s Greenest Airline,” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said.
Frontier said the lighter seats on a typical Airbus A321 aircraft render an annual fuel savings of 31,683 gallons. The company plans to install the seats in 155 Frontier planes on order.
FAMILY KICKED OFF SPIRIT FLIGHT BECAUSE 4-YEAR-OLD WITH AUTISM WASN’T WEARING MASK
Please meet this fancy new @Airbus A320neo, Francie the Piping Plover.
Francie is our 1st aircraft featuring new 30% lighter-weight seats from @recaro_as. These seats will result in significant fuel savings.
Read about Francie here: https://t.co/WY54yXei6K.
?: Mike P. and AC pic.twitter.com/DSwOQMWHbr
— Frontier Airlines (@FlyFrontier) March 24, 2021
“Based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency equivalency calculators, the fuel savings across the 156 aircraft over the course of a year is equal to the elimination of approximately 642 million plastic bottles, or more than 1.1 billion plastic bags, or more than 15 billion plastic straws from the environment,” Frontier said.
Biffle said the new lighter seats are created to be extra-comfortable, featuring redesigned armrests and a large tray table.
The new seats were produced in partnership with Recaro Aircraft Seating and Indigo Partners. The new Airbus A320neo will also feature an animal image of a piping plover, an endangered species of bird that was once close to extinction in the 1980s.
Frontier said the image honors Francie Cuthbert, a researcher that heads a University of Minnesota effort to help restore the piping plover population.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“We are in continuous pursuit of leading-edge strategies to reduce our environmental footprint and, at the same time, reduce fuel costs, which enables us to pass savings on to consumers in the form of lower fares,” the company CEO wrote.
