UK budget carrier EasyJet is maintaining pressure on manufacturers to achieve a 2015 target for introducing new open rotor engines to power next generation narrowbody aircraft, even as a 2018 entry-into-service (EIS) for the technology is now being discussed by powerplant makers.

One of the issues that may be driving the current timeline discussion for new-technology aircraft, says EasyJet strategic planning manager Hal Calamvokis, is that airframers would prefer to have two engine suppliers from the beginning for risk management purposes.

The question remains, he says: “Do we have to wait for the laggard manufacturer whereas the first manufacturer might be ready by 2015 and the second by 2018?”

Barring this consideration, however, EasyJet believes it has not been told a compelling reason why the date has to slip to the latter part of the next decade. “We would expect to see renewed efforts t

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