Alaskan regional airline orders 30 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia

ZeroAvia announced it has signed an MoU with Ravn Alaska to deliver hydrogen-electric propulsion for the operator’s passenger aircraft. Ravn has placed an order for 30 of ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 powertrains with the intention of retrofitting its De Havilland Dash-8 fleet to enable zero-emission flights.

Ravn currently operates a number of Q100 and Q300 aircraft on routes serving rural communities in Alaska. The state is an important strategic target for early adoption of hydrogen-electric flight routes, given the dependence on aviation for interstate travel and the strong potential of Alaska’s renewable energy resources—particularly hydroelectric—to generate green hydrogen.

ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 is a 2–5 megawatt (3,000–7,000 shaft horsepower) modular powertrain designed for 40–90 seat turboprop planes, targeting 500 nautical mile plus journeys from 2026 onwards—enabling flights like Anchorage to St Mary’s with zero-emissions. The company is also working to certify a 600kW powertrain for 9–19 seat aircraft for entry into service in 2024.

Rob McKinney, CEO, Ravn Alaska, said:

“We want to be at the forefront of adopting zero-emission aviation once FAA-certified technologies come to market. ZeroAvia is making great strides to bringing hydrogen-electric propulsion to Alaskan skies, and we’re looking forward to working together to realize green flight.”

Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia, Founder & CEO, said:

“Alaska represents the challenge facing the aviation industry writ large— air travel provides the vital connectivity that Alaskans so desperately need, but at the same time, the impacts of climate change on the breathtaking landscape are starkly visible. With its ample renewable energy supply and network of airfields, the state is the perfect place for some of the world’s earliest hydrogen-electric, zero-emission routes.”