United Airlines – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has announced an investment in blended wing body aircraft startup JetZero. The company is creating an aircraft design that aims to deliver jet fuel efficiency and a greatly enhanced customer experience. The investment includes a path to order up to 100 aircraft and an option for an additional 100. The conditional purchase agreement is based on JetZero achieving development milestones, including flight of a full-scale demonstrator in 2027, among other conditions, including that the aircraft meet United’s safety, business and operating requirements.
The JetZero Z4 aircraft is designed to accommodate 250 passengers and fly on conventional jet fuel, with propulsion systems able to utilise Sustainable Aviation Fuel blends.
“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,” said Andrew Chang, Head of United Airlines Ventures (UAV). “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.”
The aircraft design has the potential to offer improvements to the passenger experience like flexible seating options, larger seats across all classes and dedicated overhead bin space for each seat. Additionally, the design streamlines the boarding process with a main boarding door that is wider than that of a comparably sized aircraft, leading to multiple aisles and passenger cabin bays for more efficient passenger distribution. It may further enhance accessibility by featuring wider aisles and accessible lavatories, creating a comfortable travel environment for all passengers and inflight crew.
“United’s investment in our company signals the industry’s belief that new, innovative technology is needed in order to achieve the efficiency and cost savings that will be required to meet the continued growth in demand for air travel across the globe,” said Tom O’Leary, CEO and Co-founder, JetZero. “JetZero is focused on one key technology – the airframe – that enables us to address all of the barriers to growth. This program is the only one in development today that promises efficiency and an elevated customer experience.”
Hear more from United Airlines at the co-located APEX FTE EMEA and APEX FTE Ancillary & Retailing events, taking place in Dublin – the ‘Silicon Valley of Europe’ – on 10-12 June 2025. Jay Fulmer, Sr. Manager Solutions & Innovation, United Airlines, is participating in a session focused on ‘Innovative approaches to minimising the impact of disruption’.
Register for APEX FTE EMEA and APEX FTE Ancillary & Retailing – one registration provides access to both events >>You may also be interested in
12 technology and CX trends that can enhance airline and airport operations in 2025
