ZeroAvia and Ecojet sign deal for up to 70 hydrogen engines

ZeroAvia has signed an agreement with newly-launched British airline Ecojet for up to 70 hydrogen-electric, zero-emission engines.

Ecojet, working with Monte, the preferred lessor partner of ZeroAvia, plans to retrofit its aircraft with ZeroAvia’s ZA600 engines once certified. ZeroAvia is targeting 2025 for type certification of the ZA600. In the meantime Ecojet is set to begin operations with conventionally-powered aircraft operating routes to and from Edinburgh.

The airline has also placed a larger order for the more powerful ZA2000 engine, designed for up to 80 seat regional turboprops. ZeroAvia is aiming for entry-in-service in 2027.

“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,” said Dale Vince, founder, EcoJet. 

“The technology is here now and the planes are coming very soon – carbon free, guilt free flying is just around the corner. And although aviation is responsible for only a small part of all global emissions, it occupies a far bigger space than that in our psyche,” he explained. “The hearts and minds value of this new opportunity outweighs the carbon issue significantly. It shows that everything we need to do, can be done, with a low to zero carbon footprint. And that is big news and a big encouragement to us all.”

ZeroAvia, Ecojet and MONTE will work together with industry partners like airports, to define and finance the first pathways to hydrogen-electric commercial operations. ZeroAvia claims analysis shows that domestic flights in the UK would have lower lifecycle carbon emissions per passenger than any other common mode of transport today if powered by wind-generated green hydrogen. This includes fully occupied cars, domestic rail and coach travel.

Val Miftakhov, Founder and CEO, ZeroAvia said: “Clean aviation will mean increased regional air travel and new routes, Ecojet can capitalise based on their clear focus on low-emission travel. The UK Government’s Jet Zero Strategy has set a great example for the world to follow, but the UK can go much further by being early to act and introducing some of the first zero-emission routes in the world.”