World’s First Electric Airline, Ecojet, Takes Off

The world’s first entirely electric airline has launched. Ecotricity’s founder, Dale Vince, has announced the arrival of Ecojet, an airline whose fleet will consist entirely of retrofitted aircraft with hybrid-electric powertrains.

Vince has partnered with experienced pilot Brent Smith and a team of aviation specialists to set up the airline. Ecojet will initially launch with a 19-seat aircraft De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, although is also looking at a 70-seater turboprop to add into its fleet at a later date.

Flights are expected to commence in 2024, with Edinburgh to Southampton identified as the airline’s first route.

In the short term, in order to secure routes and an AOC (Air Operator Certificate) from the UK CAA (UK Civil Aviation Authority), the airline will use jet-fuelled Twin Otter aircraft, which will then be converted to hydrogen-electric powertrains. Other short-haul routes are expected to follow, with the possibility of long-haul routes to materialise in the future.

Ecojet’s plan is to repurpose old planes rather than build clean sheet aircraft in order to save 90,000 tonnes of carbon per year. On board, to further reduce the impact of the aviation industry, it will serve plant-based meals, eliminate single-use plastic and issue staff environmentally-friendly uniforms.

The hybrid-electric journey so far
Realistically, given the progression of current technology, the title of ‘world’s first electric airline’ will not become a reality until the powertrain technology it intends to retrofit is proven and certified.

Currently, companies like Zero Avia – a manufacturer of hydrogen-electric powertrains – are also aiming for a 2025 certification date for its ZA600 powertrain (which will be retrofitted to a 19-seater Cessna Grand Caravan as the launch airframe). It recently completed its initial test flights on its testbed Dornier 228 aircraft, and seems to be on track for the 2025 date.

However, on the face of it, it still seems a very tight schedule for the launch of a “revolutionary” airline, with Ecojet betting on the evolution of these hydrogen-electric powertrain technology companies meeting their timelines before it can even begin retrofitting this technology to its own fleet.

Announcing the launch of Ecojet, Dale Vince said:

“The question of how to create sustainable air travel has plagued the green movement for decades, Ecojet is by far the most significant step towards a solution to date. The desire to travel is deeply etched into the human spirit, and flights free of C02 emissions, powered by renewable energy will allow us to explore our incredible world without harming it for the first time.”