Mar 6, 2025 - Business

The future of flying could look like this

Joann Muller

Rendering of a revolutionary blended-wing-body airplane design from JetZero — Rendering of JetZero's sustainable aircraft design. Courtesy of JetZero/Delta

Delta Air Lines is helping a California startup, JetZero, bring this revolutionary aircraft to the skies for testing as soon as 2027.

Why it matters: The blended-wing-body airframe is expected to be up to 50% more fuel efficient than today's tube-and-wing aircraft, a huge advantage for airlines seeking to decarbonize their operations.

With the engines mounted on top of the aircraft, it's also expected to be quieter and could one day run on sustainable aviation fuel.

Driving the news: The partnership with Delta will help JetZero accelerate development of the aircraft, which is supported by a grant from the U.S. Air Force and other partners including Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites.

Delta is providing JetZero with operational expertise to help make the technology commercially viable and will take the lead on designing the aircraft's interior cabin.
The plane's unique shape offers endless possibilities, Delta said, including dedicated overhead bin space for 250 passengers, accessible seats and lavatories, and fewer rows.

The bottom line: With this and other innovations, Delta aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

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The future of flying could look like this

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