UK airline start-up Ecojet has agreed to launch services with leased hydrogen-powered aircraft using ZeroAvia’s fuel cell-based powertrains. In a deal announced Tuesday, the carrier, founded by renewable energy entrepreneur Dale Vince, said it will acquire 70 of ZeroAvia’s ZA600 propulsion systems through the manufacturer’s leasing partner, Monte.
Ecojet has yet to confirm what aircraft type it will operate or whether these will be acquired separately or via Monte. The 600-kilowatt ZA600 engines are intended for 19-seat regional aircraft like the Dornier 228, and ZeroAvia is aiming to secure its first supplemental type certificates for the planned retrofits in 2025.
According to ZeroAvia, Ecojet has also placed a larger order for the more powerful ZA2000 engine, which is intended to enter service on aircraft seating up to 80 passengers in 2027. These might include turboprop models such as the ATR72 and Dash 8 400.
In June, ZeroAvia announced that Monte had signed a purchase agreement for 100 of its hydrogen engines. According to the November 28 announcement, Monte will finance Ecojet’s powertrain purchase and also cover the cost of installation. The new airline is Monte’s first leasing customer for the ZeroAvia powertrain.
Ecojet Plans Domestic UK Flight Network
In July, Vince announced initial plans for Ecojet, indicating that he intends to launch services with an undisclosed 19-seater that would use jet-A fuel to get routes established while waiting for zero-carbon alternatives to be available. The company said that flights could begin as soon as early 2024, starting with domestic services to cities including the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. It has not yet secured an air operator certificate from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
“We don’t have to give up flying to live a green lifestyle or to get to net zero as a country, and this is big news,” Dale said. “The technology is here now and the planes are coming very soon, [so] carbon-free, guilt-free flying is just around the corner.”
Dale is the founder of the green-energy group Ecotricity and has invested in other renewable energy businesses. Until earlier this year, he made donations to environmental protest groups Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion that have targeted the aviation industry with direct action.
ZeroAvia said it will now work with Monte and Ecojet to prepare for the launch of hydrogen-electric commercial air services. The partners intend to engage with airports and other industry partners.
On November 27, ZeroAvia announced that it had raised $116 million in fresh capital through a Series C funding round. The UK Infrastructure Bank supported this round as a new cornerstone-level investor, alongside co-leads Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, and Saudi Arabia’s Neom Investment fund.
