Eco friendly airline signs deal for 70 engines

An environmentally friendly airline launched by green businessman and campaigner Dale Vince has signed a deal for 70 new aircraft engines.

Ecojet was launched by Dale Vince, the owner of Gloucestershire renewable energy firm Ecotrcity.

Vince is also owner of Forest Green Rovers – the country’s first ever vegan football club.

Vince has ambitions to offer zero emission flights by 2026, subject to approval from aviation regulators.

The hydrogen-electric engines are made by ZeroAvia, a firm which is testing the technology at the Cotswold Airport.

Dale Vince said: “We will take these engines, and stick them on our planes, and convert them to electric hydrogen.”

ZeroAvia’s founder, Val Miftakhov, moves between California and the Cotswolds, and came to sign the deal personally.

He said: “Clean aviation will mean increased regional air travel and new routes, Ecojet can capitalise based on their clear focus on low-emission travel.

“The UK government’s Jet Zero Strategy has set a great example for the world to follow, but the UK can go much further by being early to act and introducing some of the first zero-emission routes in the world.”