JetZero secures $3 billion to launch fuel-saving Z4 blended-wing aircraft
California-based JetZero received a $3 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank to begin production of its blended-wing-body Z4, a 250-seat plane promising up to 50% lower fuel use.
JetZero, a Long Beach aerospace startup, announced a $3 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank that will fund the construction of its first U.S. manufacturing plant and the launch of the Z4 blended-wing-body airliner. The Z4, designed to seat 250 passengers, merges wing and body into a single lifting surface, which JetZero claims can deliver up to 50% better fuel efficiency than conventional wide-body jets such as Boeing’s 767.
Scaled Composites is assembling the test model, slated for its maiden flight in 2027 and commercial service no earlier than 2030. United Airlines has committed to purchase as many as 200 Z4s, and Delta’s Sustainable Skies Lab praised the aircraft’s roomy interior and potential for enhanced passenger service. The project also benefits from a $235 million U.S. Air Force contract awarded in 2023, reflecting military interest in the design’s fuel-saving potential.
Why it matters
The funding could reshape commercial aviation by introducing a more fuel-efficient airliner and reviving U.S. aircraft manufacturing.
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