Japan Airlines Backs Plans for Electric Wing-in-Ground-Effect Sea Gliders
The Asian carrier is investing an undisclosed amount in a U.S. start-up called Regent and assessing how sea gliders operating routes of up to 180 miles could better connect Japan's islands.
Japan Airlines (JAL) is investing in sea glider developer Regent Craft as it starts evaluating whether the wing-in-ground-effect vessel might have a place in its fleet. The size of the investment announced on January 26 was not disclosed, but the U.S. start-up said it takes its total funding raised to date to $45 million.
Regent aims to certify its 12-passenger all-electric Viceroy model under maritime regulations with a view to starting commercial services in 2025. In August 2022, certification group Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore issued an approval in principle covering the means of compliance for the approval.
