Nasa gives Boeing $425m to develop greener aeroplanes

Boeing has been awarded $425m (£344m) from the United States space agency, Nasa, to work on reducing carbon emissions from flying.

The plane manufacturer will use the cash to develop a demonstrator aircraft that should run with 30pc lower emissions.

Single-aisle aircraft account for nearly half of worldwide aviation emissions.

Bill Nelson, Nasa administrator, said that the aim is to produce planes that are “more fuel efficient, with benefits to the environment, the commercial aviation industry, and to passengers worldwide”.

The United States wants the aviation sector to cut its emissions to net zero by 2050.