Ecojet

About Ecojet

Ecojet Airlines Limited is a proposed British regional airline positioning itself to address the environmental impact of aviation. The company was founded as Fresh Airlines Limited on August 27, 2021, and rebranded as Ecojet on May 2, 2023. The airline is the brainchild of Dale Vince, a prominent British green energy industrialist and founder of Ecotricity. Vince's background is rooted in environmentalism; he started his career as a New Age traveller, founded Ecotricity in 1995 with a single wind turbine, and has since launched numerous eco-friendly ventures, including the world's first vegan football club, Forest Green Rovers. He is joined by a team of aviation specialists, including CEO Brent Smith, a former Flybe pilot.

The business model centers on a phased approach to achieving zero-emission flights. Initially, Ecojet plans to operate with conventional turboprop aircraft to secure routes and its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The launch, originally slated for 2024, has been pushed to early 2025 to ensure all operational aspects are perfected from the start. The first route is planned to be between its base at Edinburgh Airport and Southampton. The airline's core strategy involves retrofitting its fleet with hydrogen-electric powertrains as soon as the technology is certified, which is anticipated to begin in 2025. This approach of repurposing existing aircraft is projected to save 90,000 tonnes of carbon annually compared to manufacturing new planes. Revenue will be generated from scheduled passenger services, contract flights, cargo, and public service obligation contracts. To finance its launch and satisfy CAA capital requirements, Ecojet initiated a £20 million fundraising effort in November 2024.

Ecojet's service is designed to be environmentally conscious throughout. The airline will serve plant-based meals and eliminate single-use plastics on board. The fleet will initially consist of ATR 72-600 aircraft. The long-term plan includes incorporating smaller 19-seat aircraft, such as the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, and potentially up to 50 Linx P9 gyrocopters for sub-regional routes. A key technological partnership has been established with ZeroAvia, involving an agreement to acquire up to 70 hydrogen-electric engines. This includes the ZA600 model for smaller aircraft and the more powerful ZA2000 engines, designed for 40-80 seat regional turboprops like the ATR 72. These engines use hydrogen to generate electricity, with water as the only byproduct, thus eliminating CO2 emissions and the harmful effects of contrails.