American Airlines has signed a conditional purchase agreement with clean aviation innovator ZeroAvia for 100 hydrogen-electric engines. These engines are intended to power regional jet aircraft with zero inflight emissions, producing only water vapour.
Additionally, American Airlines has increased its investment in ZeroAvia. After initially investing in ZeroAvia in 2022, American has now participated in the company’s Series C financing round. This engine agreement builds on the memorandum of understanding the companies announced in 2022.
ZeroAvia is pioneering hydrogen-electric (fuel cell-powered) engines for commercial aircraft, aiming for nearly zero inflight emissions. The company is currently flight testing a prototype for a 20-seat plane and designing an engine for larger aircraft, such as the Bombardier CRJ700, which American Airlines operates on certain regional routes. This investment and conditional commitment to purchase new engine technology support American’s ambitious goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In recent years, American has embarked on the most extensive fleet renewal effort in commercial aviation history, resulting in the youngest mainline fleet among major U.S. network carriers and improved fuel efficiency. American has also made significant investments in sustainability, including finalising an offtake agreement with Infinium, a producer of next-generation low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel, and becoming the first customer of Graphyte’s innovative and permanent carbon removal process.
“In signing this purchase agreement and furthering its investment, American is supporting our mission of innovation for clean aircraft propulsion, and it is a good signal that ZeroAvia is delivering on our technology roadmap,” said ZeroAvia Founder and CEO Val Miftakhov. “The solutions that can serve the largest airlines are within reach, and the clean future of flight is coming.”
