United Airlines takes flight with JetZero
For fuel-efficient blended wing aircraft
United Airlines has announced a significant investment in JetZero, a California-based aerospace start-up developing a next-generation aircraft designed to cut fuel use and carbon emissions while delivering a transformative passenger experience.
The partnership includes a conditional order for up to 100 aircraft, with the option for an additional 100, underscoring United’s commitment to greener aviation and technological innovation.
JetZero’s proposed aircraft features a distinctive blended wing body (BWB) design, a departure from traditional tube-and-wing airframes. This innovative shape reduces aerodynamic drag and generates lift across the entire wingspan, potentially resulting in up to 50% lower fuel consumption per passenger mile compared to existing wide-body aircraft. For airlines, this represents a significant operational cost saving and a meaningful step toward achieving ambitious sustainability targets.
The agreement between United and JetZero hinges on several development milestones, the most notable of which is the successful flight of a full-scale demonstrator by 2027. The aircraft must also meet United’s rigorous safety, business, and operational requirements before the airline proceeds with production orders.
US Air Force contract
In 2023, the United States Air Force awarded JetZero a $235 million contract to accelerate the development of its demonstrator aircraft, the JetZero Z4. That aircraft is designed to seat around 250 passengers and will be compatible with conventional and sustainable aviation fuel blends. The Z4 is being built with scalability in mind and the potential to evolve into commercial and military variants, including transport and refuelling aircraft.
Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures (UAV), highlighted the broader impact JetZero’s technology could have on the airline’s operations and environmental goals.
“If successful, JetZero has the potential to evolve our core mainline business by developing aircraft with a bigger, more comfortable cabin experience for our customers while increasing fuel efficiency across our network,” he said.
“United Airlines Ventures was created to support our efforts to find innovative companies that can enhance the customer travel experience and help the airline lower its carbon footprint, and we believe JetZero reflects that philosophy.”
Tom O’Leary, CEO and co-founder of JetZero, echoed this sentiment. “United’s investment in our company signals the industry’s belief that new, innovative technology is needed to achieve the efficiency and cost savings that will be required to meet the continued growth in demand for air travel across the globe,” he said.
“JetZero is focused on one key technology – the airframe – that enables us to address all of the barriers to growth.”
The benefits of the BWB aircraft extend beyond fuel savings. The design allows for a roomier cabin to be reconfigured, providing larger seats across all classes, dedicated overhead bins for each seat, and accessible features such as wider aisles and inclusive lavatories. A wider main boarding door and multiple aisles also mean passengers can board and disembark more quickly, reducing turnaround times and enhancing the overall travel experience.
Operational efficiency is another key advantage. JetZero’s aircraft are being engineered to fly at higher altitudes and achieve long-range performance, which translates to less fuel burn over routes such as New York/Newark to Palma de Mallorca. On that route, the Z4 could reduce fuel use by as much as 45% compared to traditional twin-aisle aircraft.
Despite its futuristic design, the aircraft is intended to integrate smoothly into existing airport infrastructure, requiring no changes to runways, taxiways, or boarding bridges. This compatibility will help airlines adopt the technology more easily and at a lower cost than alternatives that require dedicated facilities.
JetZero’s contract with the US Air Force will allow the company to explore military applications for its BWB design. The US Air Force sees potential for dramatic reductions in fuel consumption for transport and tanker aircraft, which currently account for most of its fuel use. This dual-use capability could make JetZero’s technology attractive across both public and private sectors.
United Airlines Ventures continues to back technologies that align with its vision of a more sustainable aviation future. The fund has invested heavily in hybrid-electric aircraft, hydrogen-powered planes, and electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). The partnership with JetZero is the latest in a string of moves to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
With air travel demand forecasted to rise sharply over the coming decades, United’s move positions it to lead the industry in adopting clean, scalable technologies. If JetZero succeeds in delivering on its ambitious timeline, it could help redefine the shape of commercial aviation, both literally and figuratively.
Image: CGI of a JetZero aircraft in United Airlines livery. Credit: United Airlines
