By Doyinsola Oladipo and Allison Lampert
NEW YORK, March 21 (Reuters) - Jekta Switzerland SA, an
electric-seaplane manufacturer, said on Tuesday it received its
first order, a letter of intent for 10 planes from Dubai-based
broker Gayo Aviation and Tourism, amid a global effort to lower
emissions.
Jekta's electric-motor PHA-ZE 100 will generate zero
emissions, according to the company.
Gayo intends to use the planes for sustainable luxury travel
and transport to remote areas, Gayo Chairman Gisle Dueland told
Reuters. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but large
combustion-engine seaplanes can sell for over $1 million.
The 19-seat seaplane is expected to enter service in 2029,
Jekta CEO George Alafinov said. The Alafinov family, which owns
Jekta, previously founded amphibious aircraft manufacturer
Aerovolga, the maker of the LA-8 and D-Borey.
Multiple startups are working on electric or hybrid aircraft
to meet aviation's long-term climate goals. United Airlines and Air Canada have both said they would buy
electric planes from Swedish start-up Heart Aerospace.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday
urged developed countries to commit to reaching net zero
emissions by 2040 instead of 2050. Carbon dioxide emissions from
tourism are expected to grow 25% by 2030 from 2016 levels if
there are no changes, according to the U.N. World Tourism
Organization.
There are roughly 364 seaplane operators around the world
and more than 1,000 aircraft flying, Alafinov said. DeHavilland
Canada and Textron Inc's Cessna began making seaplanes
decades earlier.
"You cannot really talk about sustainable tourism if you're
flying an aircraft that was designed 60 or 70 years ago," said
Alafinov.
Jekta aims to reduce per-passenger, per-hour operating costs
by more than 70% compared to current seaplanes.
(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Doyinsola Oladipo
in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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