Korean aircraft leasing group Solyu has committed to adding 30 of Jekta’s PHA-ZE 100 electric amphibious aircraft. Jekta announced the agreement on September 4 and said it is the Swiss start-up’s first sale logged with a leasing company; it also takes the total value of provisional orders to more than $10 billion.
Jekta is developing both hydrogen- and battery-powered versions of the 19-passenger PHA-ZE aircraft, with the aim of achieving EASA type certification in 2029. In July, the company selected ZeroAvia’s hydrogen fuel cell power generation system with the aim of achieving a range of around 326 nm. It expects to have built a full-scale prototype of this model in 2027, while counting on improvements to battery technology towards the end of the decade.
In addition to the standard regional airliner version of the PHA-ZE 100, Jekta is also proposing alternative configurations for freight, corporate shuttle, and air ambulance roles. The aircraft will be able to operate in lakes, rivers, and coastal waters with waves of up to around 4 feet, or with retractable landing gear on land.
According to Jekta’s CEO, George Alafinov, it could open up new routes to coastal communities without convenient access to airports or other transportation infrastructure. PHA-ZE stands for Passenger Hydro Aircraft—Zero Emissions.
In September 2023, Solyu signed a letter of intent with Eviation for 25 of its nine-passenger Alice electric aircraft. It has also agreed to add up to 50 of the three-seat SD-05 eVTOL aircraft being developed by Japan’s SkyDrive to its lease portfolio.
“We are excited by the potential that the PHA-ZE 100 gives to our clients, which can optimize the sustainable qualities of Jekta’s aircraft to expand and open new markets,” said Andrew Claerbout, CEO of Solyu. “Low operating costs, flexibility supported by versatile configurations, and zero-emission operations all deliver added value to our clients seeking to maximize operational efficiencies while still meeting the industry’s mandates on carbon emission reduction. The minimal infrastructure requirements needed to support PHA-ZE 100 operations are also attractive, and we expect strong interest from our customers in both the hydrogen and electric variants.”