A JetBlue-backed private jet company is all set to venture into using hybrid-to-electric planes. Zunum Aero, based in Kirkland, Washington, share an investor in JetBlue with JetSuite and are rethinking short-distance flights through its investments. The startup recently signed a deal to sell up to 100 of its hybrid-electric-powered planes to private-jet-charter provider JetSuite, slated for delivery in 2022.

The Seattle-based startup, Zunum Aero, has a vibrant team of engineers and pilots who are passionate about high-speed connectivity to every community. Zunum is developing a 12-passenger aircraft powered by twin electric-motor-driven fan blades having a conventional fuel-powered engine as a backup. The Tesla-style battery packs would be in the wings of the aircraft. The plane is designed for trips of 700 miles at a top cruising speed of 340 miles per hour. President of JetBlue Technology Ventures, Bonny Simi said, they wanted to improve the experience of flights under 1,000 miles with cheaper-to-operate flights.

Meanwhile, JetSuite, based in Irvine, California, received further investment from JetBlue and Qatar Airways, which has attributed to strengthening its bond with the private jet company. Apart from this, JetSuiteX, which offers scheduled semi-private service, would eventually replace retired Embraer 135 planes with the Zunum planes. Alex Wilcox, JetSuite’s CEO, highlighted the potential fuel savings from the hybrid-electric planes.

The electric planes would have 80% lower emissions and lesser noise than the traditional models. Also, the Jets would have a low runway requirement of 2,200 feet for takeoff. The direct cost of $250 per hour is estimated, and the savings would trickle down to customers. In this context, Wilcox said that they were expecting to bring even more efficient and environmentally friendly aviation solutions to private and semi-private jet customers.

Zunum Aero CEO, Ashish Kumar, reiterated that JetSuite, which had a tradition of shifting paradigms in aviation, was ideal for them in the launch collaboration. He added that they had a shared vision for fundamentally improving the way people live and travel.