In its quest to reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions, European budget airline EasyJet has teamed up with California-based JetZero to develop blended-wing-body (BWB) commercial airliners that could potentially run on hydrogen power.
According to JetZero, its BWB design will deliver up to a 50% reduction in fuel burn and greenhouse gas emissions compared with the traditional tube-shaped airliners in service today when running on regular jet fuel or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It intends to offer the 250-passenger aircraft as a replacement for Boeing’s 757 and 767 models and the Airbus A330.
Announcing the partnership on September 4, EasyJet said it would share its learnings with JetZero from its previous collaborations with Airbus and Rolls-Royce as part of the UK-based Hydrogen in Aviation alliance. The partners will also “explore the opportunity to use the blended-wing body as a platform for hydrogen-powered engine technology in the future,” EasyJet said in a company statement. A hydrogen fuel cell powertrain would enable zero-emissions flight.
JetZero has been developing its BWB aircraft design since 2021 with backing from the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA. The company plans to build and fly a full-scale technology demonstrator in 2027 under a $235 million Air Force contract. The Pentagon is eyeing the BWB concept as a contender for its requirements for a new military airlifter and an air-to-air refueling platform.
While other players in the advanced air mobility industry aim to cut emissions by switching to electric or hybrid propulsion systems, JetZero is approaching the challenge from a different angle: by improving the aerodynamics of the airframe. Initially, it will run on Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines.
“The blended-wing aircraft design offers the potential to maximize efficiencies and significantly reduce fuel burn and emissions in the process,” said EasyJet chief operating officer David Morgan. “Its potential to be powered by SAF or hydrogen in the future is also incredibly exciting, and we look forward to working with JetZero over the coming years alongside our other partners to achieve our joint ambition to deliver a more sustainable pathway for the aviation industry.”
JetZero is not the only company working to design new BWB aircraft. Bombardier is also developing a BWB concept for smaller business jets. Meanwhile, drone developer Natilus is working to introduce an autonomous cargo aircraft with a BWB airframe and a hydrogen-electric propulsion system provided by ZeroAvia. Airbus has also floated the idea of introducing a hydrogen-powered BWB airliner in the 2030s as part of its ZeroE initiative.