United Airlines is making a big move toward the future of flying by signing an agreement to buy up to 200 new revolutionary airplanes from startup aviation company, JetZero.
These new planes, called the JetZero Z4, have been designed to reduce emissions by 50 per cent while providing an enhanced customer experience – and they could start replacing United’s current aircraft by the year 2030.
It comes after The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently greenlit test flights of a smaller prototype, the Pathfinder, which seats 250 passengers inside the aircraft modeled after the US Air Force’s B-2 Stealth Bomber.
United first announced its investment in JetZero in April and just this week gave the public a first look at the new aircraft design.
The planes have a blended wing body shape, giving the wings and body one smooth structure rather than separate parts like on regular planes.
This design isn’t the only innovative feature of the plane – it’s also built to use much less fuel and offer more space inside, creating a better flying experience for passengers while paving the way for a cleaner environment.
United’s conditional agreement includes an initial order for 100 planes, with the option to buy 100 more later.
But JetZero needs to hit some big milestones first – such as flying a full-size test version of the aircraft by 2027 – and prove that the planes are safe, efficient, and cost-effective for commercial use.
United Airlines is making a big move toward the future of flying by signing an agreement to buy up to 200 new revolutionary airplanes from startup aviation company, JetZero
These new planes, called the JetZero Z4, have been designed to reduce emissions by 50 per cent while providing an enhanced customer experience
JetZero needs to hit some big milestones – such as flying a full-size test version of the aircraft by 2027 – and prove that the planes are safe, efficient, and cost-effective for commercial use
One of the biggest advantages of the JetZero Z4 is fuel saving, with the new design reducing drag and producing lift across the entire wingspan, helping cut fuel use by up to 50 per cent per passenger compared to similar planes flying today.
The new aircraft is also built to run on conventional jet fuel and can fly using sustainable fuel blends.
Inside, the Z4 promises an improved passenger experience, including larger seats across all classes, wider aisles, and even overhead bins for every seat.
The main boarding door will be wider too, helping passengers board faster with less hassle, while wider aisles and accessible restrooms will help make it easier for people with disabilities to move around the cabin.
Even with its unconventional shape, the Z4 is being built to fit right into today’s airports, so no major changes will be needed on runways or gates.
The aircraft is also expected to fly higher than typical jets today, which can lead to faster, smoother flights.
For example, a flight from Newark, New Jersey to Palma de Mallorca, Spain could use up to 45 per cent less fuel than current planes on that route, according to a statement from JetZero.
The U.S. Air Force is also supporting JetZero’s work and gave the company $235 million (£173 million) in 2023 to help speed up development of a full-scale test plane.
One of the biggest advantages of the JetZero Z4 is fuel savings, with the new design reducing drag and producing lift across the entire wingspan, helping cut fuel use by up to 50 per cent per passenger
Inside, the Z4 promises an improved passenger experience, including larger seats across all classes, wider aisles, and even overhead bins for every seat
The main boarding door will be wider too, helping passengers board faster with less hassle, while wider aisles and accessible restrooms will help make it easier for people with disabilities to move around the cabin
If all goes according to plan, the company hopes to begin testing the Z4 in 2027.
If the tests are successful and the plane meets all safety and business standards, United could start flying passengers on the new aircraft by 2030 – marking a huge step forward in how we fly and how airlines operate.
‘We call this the SpaceX of aviation,’ Tony Fadell, a JetZero investor and strategic advisor, told Fast Company in 2023, explaining how the company’s founders honed the prototype for decades due to a resistant industry.
He added: ‘They left to create [JetZero] because this is what the world needs to be able to hit climate goals,’ Fadell said, adding: ‘It has to happen now because we have an existential crisis.’
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