Ecojet has sought to slash costs after delaying its planned launch until next year

A leading Labour donor’s plans to establish the world’s first all-electric airline have been thrown into doubt after it sacked almost its entire workforce.

Ecojet, which is owned by Dale Vince, the founder of renewable energy firm Ecotricity, made 11 employees redundant earlier this year – having previously had a team of 13. TheTelegraph has the story.

The airline, which had claimed it was on course to become the “flag carrier for green Britain”, has sought to slash costs after delaying its planned launch until next year. Ecojet had previously hoped to start operations this summer.

It comes as Mr Vince is struggling to raise £20m to kickstart the airline and secure a crucial air operator’s certificate from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Ecojet, which is majority-owned by Ecotricity, said it had delayed its launch as it navigates a “tough investment market.”

The airline aims to offer flights from Edinburgh to locations such as Southampton, using turboprop aircraft refitted with hydrogen-electric engines built in Scotland by ZeroAvia, which would emit only water as a by-product.

It plans to establish a fleet of 20-seat Twin Otter planes, to be followed by larger 70-seat ATR 72s from Airbus and Italian partner Leonardo.

Ecojet said last year that it had begun hiring pilots and crew, while also signing a deal for up to 50 nine-seater flying taxis from ARC Aerosystems.

An Ecojet spokesman said that adviser Wyvern Partners had done “a fantastic job” helping to raise funds, adding that an “airline for a Green Britain is still coming”.

Read the full story here.