KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Royal Schiphol Group, Airbus, Royal NLR and TU Delft have joined forces to develop technology for climate-neutral flights in 2050.
The Flying Vision initiative will see the parties involved share technological advances and knowledge as well as encourage others to join to make aviation sustainable.
Tim van der Hagen, chair of the executive board of TU Delft, said: "We believe that climate-neutral aviation is possible in 2050. But for this ambition to succeed, collaboration between academia, knowledge institutions, industry and government is crucial. Together we can develop the technological solutions for sustainable aviation. This collaboration with top players from the aviation sector can serve as a pressure cooker for innovations aimed at accelerating the transition to sustainable aviation."
The partner companies will focus on developing new energy-efficient aircraft, the use of 100 per cent renewable energy and the impact of sustainable aviation on passengers.
The hope is that as Flying Vision's partners, which each represent a specific component of the aviation chain but also complement each other, will be able to develop partial as well as integrated solutions for the aviation sector.
It highlights the transition to renewable energy sources as a good example of a challenge that can be solved more quickly through collaboration.
TU Delft plans to create a physical work and meeting space at the end of this year on its campus for students, researchers, start-ups and company R&D employees to get together to share knowledge and ideas.
Earlier this year London Heathrow Airport set out its Heathrow 2.0 plan to decarbonise flights and tackle climate change.