Delta Airlines has announced its partnership with startup JetZero to design and test a blended-wing-body (BWB) demonstrator aircraft, aiming to reduce fuel consumption, emissions, and noise. The airline will provide operational support to JetZero, which will join Delta's Sustainable Skies Lab incubator, to help make the BWB aircraft a reality by 2027.

The BWB design, which smoothly blends the wings and main body of the craft, has been touted as a potential game-changer in reducing emissions. According to JetZero, the BWB design can help reduce emissions by up to 50% while keeping the same engine technology and fueling infrastructure. The startup claims that the design can provide more lifting surface area, even load and lift distribution, and reduce overall weight, resulting in significant emissions reductions.

Delta's support for JetZero comes on top of a $235 million grant from the US Air Force, awarded in 2023, for the development of a full-scale demonstrator aircraft to validate the blended-wing concept. The company is also collaborating with Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites to build and test the aircraft. Delta believes that JetZero's BWB design will also be compatible with sustainable aviation fuel, which the airline hopes will comprise at least 95% of its fuel consumption by 2050.

The BWB design is not without its challenges, however. One of the main concerns is designing a safe evacuation process in the case of an emergency landing, as the seating would be theater-style, unlike traditional tube-shaped airframes. Additionally, the number of exit doors could be limited. Furthermore, FAA certification is unknown, and until someone actually tries, the safety challenges that will arise are unclear.

Despite these challenges, Delta believes that JetZero's design presents a solution "within reach." Amelia DeLuca, Delta's Chief Sustainability Officer, stated, "Working with JetZero to realize an entirely new airframe and experience for customers and employees is bold and important work to advance the airline industry's fuel-saving initiatives and innovation goals."

Delta's partnership with JetZero is part of its broader commitment to sustainability, having pledged to spend $1 billion on sustainability efforts, including the Sustainable Skies Lab, with the aim of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. The airline's support for innovative startups like JetZero demonstrates its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and making air travel more sustainable.

The BWB design is not new, with companies like Boeing, Airbus, and even NASA having worked on similar concepts in the past. However, none of these concepts have ever made it into production. Delta's partnership with JetZero could be a significant step towards making BWB aircraft a reality, and potentially paving the way for a more sustainable future for air travel.