Sourcing Renewables  -  October 27, 2021

Commercial Hydrogen-Electric Flight Planned Between London and Rotterdam

A commercial hydrogen-electric passenger aircraft is expected to make its first flight in 2024 between Rotterdam and London.

The aircraft is currently being developed by ZeroAvia in partnership with Royal Schiphol Group, Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport Foundation and the Rotterdam The Hague Airport. The group has not agreed on an operator for the planned route between the UK and the Netherlands, but it could represent the first zero-emission international commercial flight in the world.

ZeroAvia and Royal Schiphol will continue to collaborate on testing and demonstrating hydrogen supply chain refueling operations and integration with airport operations. They will also focus on ensuring there is a viable pathway in place for the eventual adoption of such hydrogen-electric aviation technology and opportunities for commercialization and partnership with airports, airframe manufacturers and airlines in the EU.

“This deal means that, in just three years' time, you should be able to board a flight and make the hour journey between the UK and the Netherlands without worrying about the impact on the climate,” Sergey Kiselev, head of Europe at ZeroAvia, said in a statement. “Working with partners like Royal Schiphol Group, we are making true zero emission flights a reality for passengers in the first half of this decade.”