Airbus, EasyJet, and Rolls-Royce Collaborate on Hydrogen-Powered Flight in the UK

A new alliance of leading aviation and renewable energy companies has been launched to promote hydrogen as a clean and sustainable fuel for the future of flying. The Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) alliance aims to ensure that Britain is ready to embrace hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035, when Airbus plans to introduce its first commercial model.

The HIA alliance includes Airbus, easyJet, Rolls-Royce, Orsted, GKN Aerospace and Bristol Airport. They will work together to develop the necessary infrastructure, policy, regulatory and safety frameworks to enable hydrogen-flying in the UK. The alliance will also produce a report by the end of 2023, outlining the key milestones and actions needed over the next decade.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet chief executive, said at a press briefing that he hoped easyJet would be the first customer of Airbus’ hydrogen-powered aircraft. He added that it would be “unforgivable” if the aircraft were ready to fly but were held back by the lack of supportive policies.

Hydrogen is seen as one of the most promising technologies to decarbonise aviation, as it can produce zero emissions when burned or used in fuel cells. However, there are also significant challenges, such as securing a sufficient supply of green hydrogen produced from renewable sources, redesigning aircraft to accommodate large and heavy tanks, and building new infrastructure at airports.

The HIA alliance said it was confident that these challenges could be overcome with the right collaboration and investment from both the public and private sectors. It also said that hydrogen-flying could create new jobs and economic opportunities for Britain, as well as reducing its carbon footprint.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, airbus.com, easyjet