Ecojet
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| File:Ecojet-logo.png | |
| File:Ecojet-dhc6.jpg | |
| Founded | 27 August 2021 (as Fresh Airlines Limited) |
|---|---|
| Hubs | Edinburgh |
| Parent company | Ecotricity |
| Key people | Dale Vince
Brent Smith Peter Davies |
Ecojet Airlines Limited, styled as ecojet, is a proposed British regional airline based at Edinburgh Airport, Scotland. It aims to commence operations in early 2024 with flights to and from Edinburgh Airport.
History
Founding
On 17 July 2023, reports emerged that Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity and a prominent climate change activist, had formed a new company[1] by the name of Ecojet, which planned to become the world's first electric airline using a fleet of aircraft powered by renewable energy. The airline had appointed Brent Smith, a former Flybe pilot and the founder of Q400 specialist Altsel Aviation, as its Chief Executive[2] alongside Peter Davies,[3] the former Chief Executive of companies including Brussels Airlines, Air Malta, and Air Southwest,[4] who is also the founder and CEO of Airline Management Group, as its Chairman.[5]
Ecojet Airlines Limited was founded on 27 August 2021 as Fresh Airlines Limited, and this name was changed on 2 May 2023 following Dale Vince's appointment as a director.[6]
Management team
On 9 December 2023, it was reported that Ecojet had made further appointments to its management team.[7] These appointments included Deon van Rensburg as its Head of Finance, Ben Leon as its Chief Commercial Officer and Augusto Ponte as an advisor to the Board of Directors. Furthermore, it was officially confirmed that Brent Smith is to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer.
Proposed operations
The airline has said that it hopes to eliminate single-use plastics from its services, and will also serve plant-based meals and provide crew with sustainable uniforms. Whilst initially it will use traditional kerosene-fuelled aircraft, it plans to shift to electric aircraft once it has begun operations and received its operating licences and airport slots.[8]
Brand imaging
The airline's livery is based on a stylised rendition of the flag of the United Kingdom. As such, its slogan is "Flag Carrier for Green Britain",[9] with this also being a reference to the eponymous company founded by Dale Vince which has shareholdings in ventures such as Ecotricity.
Fleet
Ecojet intends to launch with the 19-seat Twin Otter aircraft before upscaling to a 70-seat Dash 8 airliner 18 months thereafter.[10] With a payload of 1,375 kilograms (3,031 lb), the range of a Twin Otter is 400 nautical miles (740 km; 460 mi).[11] The distance from Edinburgh to Southampton is 309 nautical miles (572 km; 356 mi).[12]
On 29 November 2023, Ecojet signed an agreement to acquire 70 hydrogen-electric powerplants from ZeroAvia.[13]
References
- ^ "ECOJET AIRLINES LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Ecojet: Dale Vince launches an aviation revolution". www.ecotricity.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Kelly, Cianan (20 July 2023). "Green energy advocate plans new UK regional airline, appoints former Air Southwest CEO". Fresh Aviation. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Experience | Peter Davies FRAeS | LinkedIn".
- ^ "Airline Management Group | AMG | About Us". Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "ECOJET AIRLINES LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Kelly, Cianan (9 December 2023). "Ecojet makes further board appointments in run-up to launch". Fresh Aviation. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ Leimbach, Sydney (19 July 2023). "Ecojet, UK's First Electric Airline to Launch in 2024". Environment+Energy Leader. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Lawson, Alex (16 July 2023). "Green energy tycoon to launch UK's first electric airline". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Kaminski-Morrow, David (17 July 2023). "Environmental airline start-up plans to retrofit turboprops with hydrogen-electric engines". Flight Global. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Twin Otter Series 400 Technical Description" (PDF). Viking Air Limited. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Edinburgh-Southampton distance". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "'Green airline' Ecojet buys 70 electric aircraft engines". 29 November 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
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