easyJet has become the first commercial airline to trial a nano-technology coating to see if it can reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency.

The ultra-thin coating is a polymer that cross links and bonds to the paint surface and adds only an estimated 4oz to the weight of the aircraft.

The coating reduces the build-up of debris on the aircraft’s structure, leading edge and other surfaces, reducing drag on the surface of the aircraft.

The manufacturers of the coating estimate that it could reduce easyJet’s fuel consumption by 1%-2%.

The airline has coated eight aircraft and will compare their fuel consumption with the rest of the fleet during a 12-month trial period.

The coating is less than a micron thick when applied and is applied and distributed in the UK by an organisation called TripleO.