UK's 1st electric airline Ecojet will serve plant-based meals; launch in 2024

28th July 2023,

Although a lot of us enjoy jet setting around the work for business and pleasure, few realize that air travel represents one of the most carbon-intensive individual activities. Not only do flights emit carbon dioxide from fuel combustion, but they also expel other pollutants such as greenhouse gases while en route. The released gases persist in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. In fact, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) underscores aviation as one of the fastest-growing contributors to greenhouse gas secretions, which drive global climate change. In order to address these concerns and promote sustainability, the aviation industry has been actively exploring innovative solutions.

Most recently, Dale Vince a renowned British entrepreneur, unveiled his ambitious plans to establish an electric airline, exclusively powered by renewable energy, potentially heralding a new era in air travel. Read on to know more about the latest endeavor to curtail aviation's environmental impact.

Ecojet’s environmentally friendly features 

Ecojet's initiative goes beyond the idea of emission-less aviation, setting new standards for electric air travel. The airline' distinguishing features include plant-based meals for passengers, complete elimination of single-use plastics, and the adoption of environmentally friendly uniforms for the crew. The launch will commence with a 19-seater plane operating between Edinburgh and Southampton, with larger 70-seater aircraft slated for the subsequent phase. Scheduled to commence in 2024, the airline's initial flights will cover destinations within the UK, with plans for expansion to mainland Europe and long-haul routes in the future.

Dale Vince shares his thoughts on the project

Dale Vince, renowned for founding Ecotricity, a pioneering green energy company in the UK, possesses a notable background in launching environmentally conscious ventures across various sectors, including energy, transportation, food, and even football. As the chair of League Two's Forest Green Rovers, acknowledged as the "world's greenest football club," he remains dedicated to advancing low-carbon and ethically-driven initiatives.

The British tycoon 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.”

Initial operations and subsequent conversion

Prior to gaining approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Ecojet will initially operate with kerosene-based fuel, as the process of launching an airline is recognized to be time-consuming. Once approved, the aircraft will undergo retrofitting with hydrogen-electric power trains, achieving an impressive one-hundred per cent reduction in CO2 emissions. The fleet will consist of traditional airplanes upgraded with hydrogen-electric power systems, generating significant annual carbon savings of 90,000 tonnes. The conversion process will result in the sole byproduct of water, which can be captured and released into the atmosphere to mitigate contrails' adverse effects.

Other attempts at environment-friendly innovations in aviation

The aviation sector faces substantial challenges in decarbonization, given its 2 per cent contribution to global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022. In an effort to catalyze change, in September 2020, a hydrogen fuel-cell plane successfully completed its inaugural passenger-carrying flight over England, while Airbus unveiled plans for three hydrogen-powered concept planes. Electric flight technologies are also being developed through collaborative efforts combining startups, aviation corporations, and significant stakeholders such as Rolls-Royce in the United Kingdom and an Australian charter firm.