JetZero Plans $4.7B Greensboro Plant, 14,500 Jobs

JetZero Inc., a California-based startup, announced plans to invest $4.7 billion to build its first commercial airplane manufacturing facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. This project, expected to create over 14,500 jobs by 2063, is the largest economic development initiative in North Carolina's history based on job commitment, with average salaries exceeding $89,000. JetZero will manufacture the Z4, a 250-seat blended-wing body jet designed to be 50% more fuel-efficient than traditional airplanes, aiming for entry into service in the early 2030s. The company has secured conditional purchase agreements from United Airlines and Alaska Airlines and has received a U.S. Air Force grant to build a demonstrator model by 2027. The investment includes more than $1.1 billion in state performance incentives and $450 million in infrastructure improvements to the airport, supported by state and local governments to position North Carolina as a leader in aerospace innovation. Governor Josh Stein highlighted the state's historical and future significance in aviation, praising the skilled workforce and aerospace cluster that support JetZero's mission to reshape the industry.