EasyJet Orders Kestrel Seats for 237 New Airbus Planes

EasyJet, Europe's leading low-cost carrier, announced on March 23, 2026, that it has ordered innovative Kestrel economy seats from British manufacturer Mirus Aircraft Seating for installation on 237 new Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, with deliveries beginning in 2028. The move aims to enhance passenger comfort and reduce environmental impact without altering the standard seat pitch.

The Kestrel seats promise up to two inches of additional legroom for passengers, achieved through a thinner carbon fiber frame and ergonomic design that positions the hips and spine farther back, improving knee and shin clearance. Unlike traditional seats made from molded plastic, the new models weigh more than 20 percent less, at about 6.9 kilograms each when fully equipped with seatbelts. This results in a weight reduction of up to 500 kilograms per aircraft, enabling fleet-wide annual fuel savings exceeding 12,936 tonnes and a corresponding cut in CO2 emissions of over 40,513 tonnes.

The seats feature a fixed recline of 22 degrees, eliminating manual adjustment to simplify maintenance and ensure consistent comfort on short- and medium-haul flights, which form the core of EasyJet's network....