In one of the last orders for this year’s Farnborough International Airshow, Ecojet has today announced an agreement to purchase up to 62 ZA2000 powertrains, comprising 22 firm orders and 40 options, from ZeroAvia. The order includes a deposit schedule which will ensure Ecojet secures the first ZA2000 production slots once the engine has completed certification.
The Edinburgh-based Flag Carrier for Green Britain, which is led by green industrialist and Ecotricity founder Dale Vince, had already agreed to lease 70 ZeroAvia engines – split between the ZA600 and ZA2000 models – from MONTE. The ZA600 will be used to power a fleet of 19-seat airliners from 2026, with the larger ZA2000 to be used on Ecojet’s ATR 72-600 fleet from the following year.
Dale Vince said this morning that, “Ecojet, the world’s first electric airline is on a mission to make net-zero, emission-free air travel possible for the first time. We’ve moved one step closer by signing an agreement to purchase 22 hydrogen electric engines from ZeroAvia. This is nothing short of a revolution in aviation, the world has just moved a step closer towards a solution to sustainable air travel.”
ZeroAvia’s Founder and CEO, Val Miftakhov, added that, “We really love what the team are doing at Ecojet. Dale speaks powerfully on the future ubiquity of renewable power and is already helping to make that a reality in the UK. Hydrogen-electric aviation can be a big part of that journey, opening up low-cost, efficient and safe true zero-emission transport between UK destinations like never before.”
Ecojet has already made headlines this week with an agreement to purchase up to 50 Linx P9 aircraft from ARC Aerosystems, a deal which was covered exclusively by Fresh Aviation. The airline will begin operations later this year using a fleet of conventionally-powered aircraft before later transitioning to zero-emissions engines.
Cianan Kelly entered the sphere of aviation journalism two years ago with his debut publication, Connecting the UK, which was met with acclaim by enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. He joined Fresh Aviation in late 2022 with the aim of contributing to high-quality aviation press and research, with a focus on sustainability and the regional aviation sector.