United Invests in JetZero, Could Acquire 200 Blended Wing Body Aircraft

The airline on Thursday announced that its investment arm, United Airlines Ventures, is directing an undisclosed amount of funding to JetZero—a startup developing a blended wing body (BWB) design. The company said its conditional purchase agreement with JetZero “includes a path” to order up to 100 BWB aircraft, with the option to double its order if JetZero satisfies certain performance milestones, such as the flight of a full-scale demonstrator in 2027. It will also need to meet United criteria for safety, business, and operations.

United believes JetZero’s Z4 could reduce fuel burn by as much as 50 percent per passenger mile versus comparably sized tube-and-wing aircraft, without sacrificing passenger comfort. The investment comes just weeks after competitor Delta Air Lines partnered with JetZero to offer “operational expertise to help make this technology viable,” Delta said in March.

JetZero’s development of the Z4 is further funded by NASA, the FAA, and a four-year, $235 million contract with the U.S. Air Force. It bills the design as a multiuse platform for commercial, cargo, and military operations, with air tanker and aerial refueling variants also in development.

“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, in a statement.

United views the Z4—designed to accommodate both conventional jet fuel and SAF blends—as a way to lower fuel burn, curtail carbon emissions, and reduce operational costs.

The “all wing” concept is designed to generate lift across the entire wing while reducing drag. It also has a high service ceiling of 45,000 feet. According to United, that combination can reduce fuel burn by as much as 45 percent for the approximately 3,400 nm trip from New York to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, compared to twin-aisle airliners that fly that route.

The Z4 also has the advantage of fitting into existing airport infrastructure, which is not the case for many low- and zero-emission aircraft concepts. Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, for example, will require charging stations, while hydrogen-powered designs will need infrastructure for storing and transporting fuel.

“JetZero is focused on one key technology—the airframe—that enables us to address all of the barriers to growth,” said Tom O’Leary, co-founder and CEO of JetZero. “This program is the only one in development today that promises efficiency and an elevated customer experience.”

United said passengers on the BWB aircraft can expect wider aisles, handicap-accessible bathrooms, and larger seats, with dedicated overhead bin space for each. A large main boarding door could enable it to be configured with multiple aisles and passenger cabin bays.

The airline framed its investment in JetZero as part of its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, which it reiterated Thursday. United Airlines Ventures also invests in hybrid-electric regional plane manufacturer Heart Aerospace and hydrogen engine developer ZeroAvia, with opportunities to acquire up to 200 ES-30 aircraft and as many as 100 engines, respectively.

Those orders are still at least a few years away from coming to fruition, if they ever do. As early as this year, though, United and eVTOL air taxi developer Archer Aviation plan to launch a commercial home-to-airport service in New York and Chicago. The airline last year placed a predelivery deposit of $10 million for its 2021 order of up to 100 Archer Midnight air taxis, valued at $1 billion.

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