JAL invests in sea-glider start-up Regent Craft

Japan Airlines Innovation Fund, the venture arm of the Japanese carrier, has invested in start-up sea-glider developer Regent Craft. The companies on 26 January disclosed the funding, with the US firm saying it is its largest overseas investment to date. Regent did not disclose the investment amount but the company says it has raised over $40m to develop its craft. “This is a really big step for us to have Japan Airlines on board,” Regent CE Billy Thalheimer tells FlightGlobal. “We’re seeing aviation companies lean in [to] this space where… some people initially had doubts [if] maybe a maritime-based vehicle would even be interesting to consider for an airline.” But numerous air transport companies have come around. “We’re seeing this growing use case for certified maritime-based vehicles from aviation authorities and aviation operators,” Thalheimer says. Airlines are beginning to think about how to get customers from door to door, he says, not just from airport to airport. “We’re starting to see a shift into this true multi-modal thinking,” he adds. “That’s a really exciting space for Regent to be playing in, and really exciting that we’re starting to see the market traction and validation with Japan Airlines.” Yasushi Noda, executive officer and senior vice-president of digital innovation at Japan Airlines, adds: “We believe sea gliders are a safe, sustainable and economical solution, and we are excited to work with Regent to assess demand not only in Japan but around the world.”<br/>