Ecojet
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.
Founded | 27 August 2021 (as Fresh Airlines Limited) |
---|---|
Hubs | Edinburgh |
Parent company | Ecotricity |
Key people | Dale Vince
Brent Smith Peter Davies |
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, to its team[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.[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]
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.[7]
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",[8] 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.[9] With a payload of 1,375 kilograms (3,031 lb), the range of a Twin Otter is 400 nautical miles (740 km; 460 mi).[10] The distance from Edinburgh to Southampton is 309 nautical miles (572 km; 356 mi).[11]
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.
- 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.