United Airlines invests in aircraft startup JetZero

(Reuters) - United Airlines said on Thursday it has made an investment in JetZero, a startup looking to build a blended wing body aircraft aimed at reducing fuel burn in the skies.

United said it can order up to 100 airplanes from JetZero, with an option to acquire another 100, with the purchase agreement contingent on the startup achieving certain milestones such as the flight of a full-scale demonstrator in 2027.

Newer players such as JetZero are hoping to take advantage of a shortage of new jets and the industry's attempts to reduce carbon emissions.

JetZero says its blended wing design, in which the wings merge seamlessly with the curvaceous fuselage, could lead to as much as 50% reduction in fuel burn per passenger mile as a result of lower drag.

The company has already received a $235 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop its demonstrator. In March, JetZero announced a partnership with Delta Air Lines under which the carrier would help with design and development of the aircraft.

(Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)

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