A Seattle area-based start-up backed by Boeing and JetBlue Airways has announced plans to fill a gap in the market for low cost regional airline travel with the launch of a hybrid-electric commuter plane.

Zunum Aero said is will start selling its small hybrid-electric commuter planes by 2022.

By making use of the United State?s network of 13,500 smaller airports that are based around big cities, Zunum Aero said that its 12-person passenger planes will substantially reduce the cost and duration of trips under 1000 miles.

The planes, which will be piloted initially and eventually drone operated, will be powered by two electric motors and wing-integrated battery packs with a supplemental jet-fuel engine. The firm forecasts that as technology rapidly improves, future models will be able to fly solely on battery power.
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