Japan Airlines (JAL) has joined forces with US aerospace startup JetZero to support the development of its unconventional Z4 commercial aircraft, a blended-wing-body (BWB) design that resembles a manta ray. The partnership was announced during the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow. Japan Airlines Partners with JetZero The Z4 is being developed as a next-generation mid-market passenger aircraft with a planned capacity of around 250 passengers and a range of approximately 5,000 nautical miles. JetZero says the aircraft could deliver a 30–50% improvement in fuel efficiency compared with today's commercial jets. Japan Airlines to Contribute Operational Expertise Under the agreement, JAL will work with JetZero on several aspects of the aircraft's development, including flight operations, cabin services, maintenance and ground handling. The airline's experience is expected to help JetZero incorporate practical airline requirements into the aircraft from the earliest ...