Aerospace heavyweights including Airbus, Rolls-Royce and easyJet have pledged to work together to support the sector’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.
The group of South West-based industry leaders met at Bristol Airport to discuss ways to move towards clean aviation.
The event, part of a series being organised by the airport to showcase the region's role in helping the industry decarbonise, was also attended by sector representatives from GKN, Atkins, Vertical Aerospace, Universal Hydrogen and Wood.
The group said it was “committed” to driving the development and adoption of zero emissions technologies across the industry in the region and beyond.
“This will involve cross-sector collaboration and innovation that will help deliver the UK’s sustainable aviation ambitions and enable the UK to build back better from the pandemic, driving recovery and jobs creation across the region and the country,” the group said in a statement.
Bristol Airport said further collaborations and proposals would take place in the coming months as the region turns towards recovery from Covid-19 and in the lead up to COP26 in November.
Plans include working with the Western Gateway - a proposal to create an economic powerhouse across the West of England and South Wales.
Emma Gilthorpe, chief executive of the Jet Zero Council - a partnership between industry and government aiming to deliver zero-emission transatlantic flights within a generation - welcomed the announcement.
“I am greatly encouraged by their joint commitment to support the decarbonisation of our sector,” she said.
“Collaborative regional planning such as this will ensure our industry harnesses it's collective capabilities and maintains the benefits of flying for future generations, whilst also establishing a credible pathway to net-zero emissions.”
There are a number of clean aviation projects underway in the South West including a consortium led by Atkins, and including Bristol Airport, that is exploring the feasibility of air taxi services in the region.
In March, Rolls-Royce announced its technology would be used to power the drone-like ‘flying taxi’ that is being developed in Bristol by aerospace manufacturer Vertical Aerospace.
