Work is in progress on what is believed to be the world's first solar jet that will fly around the world - day and night - in 25 days.

Test flights will take place early next year with the world voyage slated for 2011.

Pulling it all together is Swiss-based Solar Impulse, in partnership with several companies and organisations including the International Air Transport Association (Iata) - a grouping of about 240 airlines worldwide.

Both parties sealed the partnership in a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit on Monday.

Solar Impulse president Bertrand Piccard told reporters that the US$70 million prototype aircraft will be built to carry just one person, the pilot.

It will have a wing span of about 80 m, which is similar to that of the Airbus 380 superjumbo, so that enough solar panels can be fixed to capture the sun power needed.

On whether such an aircraft can be commercially viable, Mr Piccard stressed that the price of energy 'will oblige everyone - including the big plane makers - to find alternatives if they want to survive.'

While the world is still many years away from a solar jet that can carry more than 300 people, a more commercially viable option may well be a hybrid jet, he said.

Iata director-general and chief executive officer Giovanni Bisignani noted that while aviation contributed to just two per cent of man-made carbon emissions, the industry is bent on reducing its carbon footprint further.

The war is being fought on many fronts, from investing in new technology in the form of more fuel-efficient aircraft, to pushing air traffic controllers and governments to rationalise air routes so that airlines do not waste money and fuel unnecessarily.

A solar jet is ambitious but 'we are in an industry built on turning dreams into reality', Mr Bisignani said.