Delta Partners With Maeve Aerospace to Develop Hybrid-Electric Regional Jet

Delta Air Lines has signed a partnership with Dutch start-up Maeve Aerospace to help develop a hybrid-electric regional jet; a move the U.S. carrier says will cut emissions, expand its next-generation fleet strategy and support its 2050 net-zero goal.

The aircraft, called the MAEVE Jet, is designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 40% compared to current regional designs. It uses a hybrid-electric engine system that provides power assistance during low-altitude operations, while further savings are possible when the aircraft is fueled with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

“Delta is proud to collaborate with Maeve to help shape the next chapter of regional aviation,” said Kristen Bojko, Vice President of Fleet at Delta. She said Maeve brings “the bold, forward-thinking innovation we champion at Delta – solutions that advance aircraft design, enhance operational efficiency, elevate employee and customer experiences, and cut emissions.”

Maeve described the deal as a step toward tailoring its design to the U.S. market. “It’s a privilege to have Delta as a partner in the development of groundbreaking technologies and processes,” said Martin Nuesseler, Chief Technology Officer at Maeve. “We’re proud to work together to tailor the MAEVE Jet for the U.S. market.”

The partnership makes Delta Maeve’s North American global airline partner and adds the start-up to Delta’s Sustainable Skies Lab, which brings together experimental projects from across the industry. 

Maeve becomes the fifth addition to the program, joining JetZero with its blended wing body aircraft, Joby’s electric air taxi concept, and long-standing partners Airbus and Boeing, which are both working on aerodynamic design improvements.

The MAEVE Jet is intended as a five-abreast, single-aisle regional aircraft, a first-of-its-kind configuration that seeks to deliver the economics and comfort of a narrow-body plane on short-haul routes. Delta said the hybrid model would not only cut fuel use but also allow integration of more electric systems across the aircraft.

Delta has also partnered with Green Taxi Aerospace to test electric taxiing systems for regional aircraft, aimed at reducing fuel use, operating costs and taxi times on the ground. The airline said this reflects its broader strategy to act on “what we fly, how we fly, and the fuel we use.”

By combining incremental improvements like electric taxiing with longer-term bets on hybrid-electric and alternative aircraft, Delta says it is working to improve what it can control now while preparing for transformative changes in aviation technology.

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