A UK airline has ceased all operations and entered liquidation just a few years after its inception. The Scottish carrier, Ecojet, was established in 2023 by controversial British entrepreneur and Just Stop Oil supporter Dale Vince, who envisioned it as the 'world's first electric airline'. However, the airline has now shut down after reportedly attempting to raise £20 million, according to the Express.
Opus Restructuring has been appointed as provisional liquidators. The advisory group noted that it was a 'voluntary liquidation initiated by the company's board'. The firm added: 'Ecojet was a start-up business and has no material assets. The members have elected to fund the liquidation process to ensure that the company's employees receive their full statutory entitlements.'
Ecojet had not yet launched any flights but had planned routes between Southampton and Edinburgh using planes retrofitted with hydrogen-electric engines. It also intended to expand to mainland Europe and eventually offer long-haul trips to destinations such as the US and Asia. The carrier aimed to implement eco-friendly practices, including serving plant-based meals and providing staff with environmentally friendly uniforms.
Vince—a multi-millionaire vegan eco-tycoon who has donated to the Labour Party and climate activists Just Stop Oil—hoped Ecojet would make zero-carbon, emission-free air travel a reality. Upon launch, he stated: 'The question of how to create sustainable air travel has plagued the green movement for decades; Ecojet is by far the most significant step towards a solution to date.'
The aircraft were intended to achieve a 100% reduction in CO2 and other emissions through hydrogen-electric powertrains. Vince also outlined plans to reduce the aviation industry's impact by serving plant-based meals, eliminating single-use plastic, and using eco-friendly uniforms made from fabrics that 'don’t pollute the planet'. The company also planned to repurpose old aircraft to save 90,000 tonnes of carbon per year.
Vince initially invested around £1 million in the company and said he would raise further funds in 2024. Flights were due to start in 2024 but never materialised. Ecojet's aircraft could only be retrofitted with hydrogen-electric power if the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved its use for commercial flights—which has not yet happened.
