Delta to provide operational expertise to bring Maeve’s hybrid electric aircraft, which is up to 40% more fuel efficient, to commercial viability for regional flights
Delta Air Lines is partnering with Maeve Aerospace to advance the development of Maeve’s revolutionary hybrid electric aircraft for regional flights. Compared to today's regional aircraft designs, the MAEVE Jet is designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 40% using conventional jet fuel, with further lifecycle emissions reductions possible when using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This collaboration is the latest milestone in Delta’s ongoing journey to identify potential alternative and more fuel-efficient aircraft solutions, drive fuel savings, elevate the customer experience and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
As Maeve's North American global airline partner, Delta will lend its operational expertise to support the MAEVE Jet’s development. The design of the MAEVE Jet is a first-of-its-kind interpretation of a regional aircraft that brings the economics and comfort of a narrow-body aircraft to short-haul operations. With a five-abreast, single-aisle seat configuration, the regional solution will set a new standard for more sustainable regional flights.
Maeve joins Delta’s Sustainable Skies Lab as the fifth revolutionary fleet partner, advancing a key milestone in Delta’s 2023 Sustainability Roadmap to accelerate innovative solutions for a more sustainable future of travel. As a regional, hybrid-electric solution, Maeve’s exclusive partnership with Delta’s Sustainable Skies Lab strategically rounds out Delta’s portfolio of revolutionary fleet partners across short, medium and long-haul markets. Other revolutionary fleet partners include JetZero with its blended wing body mainline aircraft; Joby with their home-to-airport air offering; and Airbus and Boeing, both of which are exploring aerodynamic design solutions.
This collaboration builds on Delta’s broader sustainability strategy, which focuses on three key pillars: “what we fly, how we fly, and the fuel we use.” From investing in next-generation aircraft and scaling SAF usage to optimizing flight operations and reducing weight onboard to save on jet fuel, Delta is taking a holistic approach to decarbonizing air travel.
“Delta is proud to collaborate with Maeve to help shape the next chapter of regional aviation and accelerate progress toward a more sustainable future of flight,” said Kristen Bojko, Vice President of Fleet at Delta Air Lines. “As we work toward the next generation of aircraft, we look to partners like Maeve who embody the bold, forward-thinking innovation we champion at Delta – solutions that advance aircraft design, enhance operational efficiency, elevate employee and customer experiences, and cut emissions. While driving toward transformative technologies that strengthen our network and redefine regional air travel remains a key priority, we’re equally focused on safety and a more sustainable future of flight.”
The next-generation MAEVE Jet is expected to be compatible with both conventional jet fuel and SAF. The MAEVE Jet is designed to achieve up to 40% fuel reduction through a hybrid-electric engine architecture that provides power assistance at low altitude operations. This enables an optimization of the power plant and the wing for lower fuel consumption. The hybrid-model can also support the efficient integration of more electric aircraft systems.
“It’s a privilege to have Delta as a partner in the development of groundbreaking technologies and processes,” shared Martin Nuesseler, Chief Technology Officer at Maeve Aerospace. “Their expertise in fleet innovation and commitment to aviation sustainability is unmatched, and we’re proud to work together to tailor the MAEVE Jet for the U.S. market.”
Full statement at Delta Website: https://news.delta.com/delta-partners-maeve-aerospace-advance-hybrid-regional-aircraft
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About Maeve Aerospace
Maeve Aerospace group is a European innovator in sustainable and economic aircraft design. Founded in 2021, the company operates from offices in the Netherlands and Germany. Maeve combines the agility of a dynamic entrepreneurial team with the expertise needed to lead an industrial aircraft program. In response to growing globalization and increasing air travel demand, Maeve is committed to shaping the future of aviation. Its mission is to provide sustainable and affordable air mobility that connects communities while minimizing environmental impact. Maeve is dedicated to changing regional aviation by developing a new regional aircraft capable of providing narrow-body standards combined with low costs, superior performance and lower environmental footprint.
The company is leveraging its experience to create a new generation of regional jets with 50 to 100 seats. In collaboration with the MHI RJ Aviation Group, Maeve is developing the first clean-sheet regional jet to be introduced to the market in over 20 years.
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Sustainability at Delta
To learn more about Delta’s sustainability strategy, visit Sustainability | Delta Air Lines.
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