Edinburgh eco airline goes into liquidation with all flights cancelled

An airline based in Edinburgh, claiming to be the world’s “first electric airline”, has collapsed into liquidation.

Ecojet, launched in 2023 by environmentalist and entrepreneur Dale Vince, aimed to charter flights from Edinburgh to Southampton before expanding to European routes.

The 61-year-old green energy tycoon previously made headlines for his work with the UK’s first carbon-neutral football team, Forest Green Rovers.

Ecojet’s fleet was set to comprise of conventional planes retrofitted with hydrogen-electric powertrains.

Once converted, the aircraft would operate with the same power output as before, while reducing CO2 and other emissions by 100%.

The decision to repurpose old planes rather than build new models from scratch was said to be expected to save 90,000 tonnes of carbon per year.

Liquidators from Opus Restructuring have been formally appointed this month following a petition presented to Edinburgh Sheriff Court in January to wind up the firm.

Mr Vince said in a statement earlier this year: “We remain committed to electrifying all forms of transport – aviation is the last frontier and the hardest.

“It’s taking longer than we hoped to get the technology and regulatory pieces of the puzzle in alignment, and so we’re pausing work at this time.”

He added: “This is a vital frontier in the move to net zero, green living, whatever you choose to call it – and it’s absolutely doable.

“It’s a matter of when, not if.”

Opus Restructing and Ecojet have been contacted for comment.