Airlines Embraer, Widerøe and Rolls-Royce sign collaboration for innovative technologies

During Singapore Airshow 2022, aircraft manufacturer Embraer, Norwegian passenger airline Widerøe and component and engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce have agreed on a strategic partnership that will see the companies working together on developing and researching on innovative technologies for sustainable regional aircraft.

The deal signed is active for a 12-month span and will address to study a conceptual zero-emission regional aircraft. It will involve passenger requirements to stay connected in a post-Covid-19 time. In connection with sustainable and technologically advanced innovations, new solutions can be created for national governments to use existing passenger mobility infrastructure in a more efficient way.

New propulsion technology studies will be covered among other topics. Especially, electric, hydrogen fuel cell or hydrogen fueled gas turbine powered aircraft will be analyzed. Insights of future result could well be the driver and enabler for clean and renewable energy.

Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, confirmed: “The aim of our collaboration is to create new flight solutions that serve expanded market segments in a sustainable manner. I strongly believe this could lead to fully sustainable connectivity, including (very) short haul intercity operations.”

Andreas Aks, CEO of Widerøe Zero, a subsidiary of Widerøe AS, added: “Working with the world’s leading aerospace technology firms, our aim is to understand how viable business can be built around zero emissions regional concepts, and to advise the manufacturers on operational requirements and customer expectations to design the best possible and sustainable air mobility service.”

Chris Cholerton, President – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, concluded: “This is an exciting project which will shape our thinking on solutions for net-zero regional operation. As pioneers of power, this is the kind of engineering challenge that we relish. We have an excellent working relationship with both Embraer and Wideroe, and look forward to deepening our collaboration.”

Back in November of last year, Embraer´s Eve and Widerøe announced a partnership to collaborate on innovative Air Mobility solutions in Scandinavia. Widerøe was the launch customer of the E190-E2 and will also buy into the eVTOL vehicle developed by Eve.