General Aviation JetSuite will become Zunum’s hybrid aircraft launch customer
The Washington-based aircraft manufacturer start-up Zunum Aero has announced that JetSuite will become launch customer for the first hybrid electric regional aircraft.
JetSuite plans to use the aircraft for its on-demand charter JetSuiteX services.
“JetSuite plans to add up to 100 of the electrics to their fleet in the early 2020s, enabling them to bring quiet, efficient and environmentally friendly travel services to their private and semi-private customers nationwide,” Zunum Co-Founder and Aircraft CTO Matt Knapp stated in a press release.
Zunum has been working since 2013 on a first hybrid electrical regional aircraft. The first aircraft type should be able to carry up to 12 passengers in an economy seat configuration on flights with a range of up to 1120 kilometers. The first prototype of the aircraft is scheduled to take-off for the first time in 2019 or 2020. The delivery of the first aircraft to JetSuite is expected by 2022.
The cooperation between Zunum and JetSuite was expected as both companies have the same financial partner. The US carrier JetBlue, which has invested in Zunum, is a strategic investor in JetSuite. JetSuite is managed by the former JetBlue manager Alex Wilcox. Additionally, Qatar Airways has invested in JetSuite some months ago.
JetSuite operates charter flights with its current fleet of Embraer Phenom 100 and Cessna Citation jets. JetSuiteX provides scheduled flights connecting several destinations at the US West Coast. The carrier operates scheduled flights out of private terminals, allowing travelers to bypass large hubs. Since some weeks, JetBlue sells tickets for the semi-private flight service under a new codeshare agreement with JetSuiteX.
More about
Source © zunum.aero