Easyjet's fuel saving aircraft produces water passengers can drink

Aircraft passengers could soon be served water recovered by a hybrid fuel system being developed by a budget operator to save up to £24m a year.

Luton-based Easyjet plans to use a hydrogen fuel cell energised from the landing braking system to provide power when taxiing on the ground.

The system would produce purified water that could be drunk or used in toilets.

Easyjet's head of engineering Ian Davies said: "I think we could reuse the water. It's absolutely pure."

The hybrid planes being developed in conjunction with Cranfield University in Bedfordshire could save around 50,000 tonnes of fuel for its fleet each year, Easyjet said.

The airline hopes to launch the hybrid plane within the next decade.