Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, is working with US carrier JetBlue Airways and global FBO network Signature Flight Support to forge a new path toward net-zero emissions in the aviation industry that will incentivise the rapid commercialisation of clean propulsion systems.

Joby, JetBlue and Signature are working together to ensure the carbon markets for aviation include the generation of credits for flights powered by green electric and hydrogen propulsion technologies, effectively connecting today's airlines and operators to the development of sustainable solutions.

Joby is developing an eVTOL aircraft that will quietly transport a pilot and four passengers up to 150 miles while producing zero operating emissions. The company's aerial ridesharing service, which Joby intends to launch in 2024, will enable revolutionary ways for people to move in and around cities while reducing ground traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

Together, the three partners will work to define the framework for the creation, validation and eventual use of these new credits on aviation carbon markets, including identifying a third party to oversee and validate transactions. The companies expect to confirm further details of the structure later this year.

SAF, fuel efficiencies and out-of-sector investments are the best solutions available today for environmentally-conscious operators to reduce and offset their emissions. The three companies recognise that operations using electric and hydrogen propulsion technologies are in their nascent stages, but in the near term these operations will begin to reduce emissions in the short-haul category on a per-seat-mile basis.

Electric and hydrogen propulsion technologies will play an increasingly critical role in further driving down the sector's emissions, and the establishment of carbon credits generated by green aviation will create a powerful economic incentive that accelerates the industry's transition beyond fossil fuels.

“With JetBlue and Signature, we're opening up an entirely new path for the aviation industry to more quickly move to sustainable energy sources,” says JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “We invite additional partners to join us and hope these agreements will be the first of many that link today's air travel to the clean future of flight.”

In 2020, JetBlue became the first US airline to achieve carbon neutrality for all of its domestic flights through the purchase of carbon offsets from solar, wind and forestry projects all across the globe.

“This partnership allows JetBlue to not only continue to fulfil our domestic carbon neutrality commitment, but also evolve the type of offsets we purchase and help support the development of electric and hydrogen aviation, critical levers for meeting the US aviation industry's net-zero goals,” adds Sara Bogdan, head of sustainability and environmental social governance at JetBlue.

JetBlue continues to invest in Joby's success through its venture capital subsidiary, JetBlue Technology Ventures.

In 2020, Signature set ambitious carbon reduction targets and was one of the world's largest purchasers of SAF. The company has invested heavily in eco-friendly facility design, construction and operations in the last five years.

“We have long been the leader in moving the business aviation community towards a sustainable future,” comments Tony Lefebvre, CEO at Signature Flight Support. “Today, we offer our customers the option to offset emissions at airports where SAF isn't readily available with a book-and-claim model. We're excited to expand that model through this partnership to include the purchase of electric aviation credits from clean operators like Joby, all while supporting the innovative spirit that brings us closer every day to making flight sustainable for everyone.”