Delta Air Lines and JetZero have just released photos of their futuristic and environmentally friendly aircraft that is taking airplane design to the next level.
It’s expected to fit over 250 fliers, who will likely not hear the engine much due to it being on the roof of the plane.
The new rendering shows how seemlessly the wings of the sleek aircraft, reminiscent of a fighter jet, blend into the body.
The airline and start-up manufacturer have teamed up to create the eco-friendly plane with the goal of decreasing emissions and fuel costs.
While typical commercial airlines can fly up to 4,000 miles on a single tank of fuel, JetZero’s aircraft can go for a rang of 5,754 miles.
Delta will provide consultation for the lightweight aircraft’s interior design to ‘re-invent and further elevate customer and employee experiences,’ according to the press release.
The new carrier is part of Delta’s multi-pronged approach to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
If all goes according to plan, the futuristic aircraft will take flight in 2027.
Delta and JetZero’s partnership came after the US Air Force invested $235 million into the California-based startup for the blended-wing bodied (BWB) aircraft.
‘Working with JetZero to realize an entirely new airframe and experience for customers and employees is bold and important work to advance the airline industry’s fuel saving initiatives and innovation goals,’ said Amelia DeLuca, Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer.
‘While Delta is focused on doing what we can today to address our carbon footprint, it’s critical we also work with a variety of partners to advance revolutionary technologies, like JetZero’s blended-wing-body aircraft, to solve for a significant portion of future aviation emissions.’
According to the press release, the uniquely shaped aircraft, whose wings are made of stitched carbon fiber, will offer ‘endless possibilities.’
With the design, travelers can expect to see various in-flight changes like overhead bin space for each passenger, fewer rows and accessible seats.
‘JetZero is working to change the world by bringing to market an aircraft that aims to fly this decade and make immediate and marked progress toward reducing airline energy costs, and the associated emissions,’ said Tom O’Leary, JetZero co-founder and CEO.
‘Delta was one of the first carriers to partner with us, supporting us behind the scenes since 2023, and we look forward to their continued support of our program through their deep knowledge and expertise.’
BWB aircrafts were first tested and demonstrated in the 1990s by NASA and Stanford University.
Over the years, manufacturers have worked to enhance the style of jet to make it safer and more efficient.
BWB planes are up to 50 percent more fuel efficient than those with tube-and-wing airframes.
According to Delta, this is due to the design, which can provide more lifting surface area, even load and lift distribution, and is overall lighter in weight.
‘If you think about a “tube and wing,” it separates the loads – you have the pressurization load on the tube, and the bending loads on the wings,’ Tom O’Leary, co-founder and CEO of JetZero told CNN.
‘But a blended wing essentially blends those together. Only now can we do that with composite materials that are both light and strong.’
Delta is also looking into seeing if the new aircraft can fit into an existing airport infrastructure and offer faster turnaround times.
Besides Delta, Alaska Airlines has also turned to JetZero for their proposed new jet.
Alaska confirmed that its investment firm Alaska Star Ventures invested as part of JetZero’s Series A in 2023 and was the first airline to do so.
Like Delta, Alaska Airlines is aiming to have net-zero carbon emissions, but they’re looking to reach it in 2040.
‘We are proud to invest in JetZero’s development of this innovative next-generation aircraft, with a significant step-change in fuel efficiency,’ said Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines.
‘We and JetZero share a vision for more sustainable aviation, and we are excited to partner with them in creating that future.’