MOJAVE, California, July 29: U.S.-based startup JetZero is developing a revolutionary passenger aircraft that could challenge aviation giants Boeing and Airbus with an entirely new design. The full-scale prototype is being assembled inside a massive hangar in California’s Mojave Desert and is expected to become the world’s first commercial-sized blended-wing-body (BWB) passenger aircraft, integrating the fuselage and wings into a single aerodynamic structure.
Inspired by the shape of a manta ray, the aircraft is designed to reduce fuel consumption by nearly 50% compared to conventional airliners. The company says the innovative design will improve efficiency while lowering emissions and noise.
JetZero’s Z4 aircraft is planned to carry between 200 and 270 passengers on medium- and long-haul routes. Unlike traditional tube-shaped aircraft, it will feature a wide, flat cabin with a redesigned seating layout, larger windows, and more spacious interiors. Engines mounted high at the rear of the aircraft are also expected to reduce noise around airports.
The project has attracted strong support from industry and government. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines have invested in the program, while the U.S. Air Force has provided partial funding. The prototype is being built by Scaled Composites, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, and is powered by Pratt & Whitney engines previously used on the Boeing 757.
JetZero Chief Executive Officer Tom O’Leary said the aircraft builds on more than three decades of research conducted by NASA. He added that the blended-wing design could also be adapted for military transport and aerial refueling missions.
The startup gained momentum after securing a $235 million contract from the U.S. Air Force in 2023. In early 2024, it raised an additional $175 million in funding, while United Airlines signed a conditional agreement to purchase up to 100 aircraft.
JetZero aims to conduct the aircraft’s maiden flight before the end of 2026. If the test proves successful, commercial production is expected to begin in 2030 at the company’s manufacturing campus in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia cautioned that although the concept is highly promising, transforming it into a fully certified commercial aircraft will require billions of dollars in investment and years of regulatory testing.
