ZeroAvia and KLM work on hydrogen-electric flight demonstration

ZeroAvia and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) have announced they will work towards a demonstration flight using ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 zero-emission, hydrogen-electric engines for large regional turboprops.

Hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which powers electric motors to turn the aircraft’s propellers. The only emission is low-temperature water vapour, leading to an estimated 90% reduction in climate impact compared with typical kerosene-fuelled flights.

As a significant milestone, the companies aim to conduct an initial A-to-B flight demonstration between two airport locations in 2026. Immediate workstreams will focus on identifying the optimal airport pair, securing regulatory permits, ensuring the supply of liquid hydrogen fuel, and establishing the supporting infrastructure for aircraft refuelling.

This collaboration between KLM and ZeroAvia provides the evidence base for adopting cleaner flights on KLM’s network. Furthermore, the demonstration project will accelerate the development of operational concepts for hydrogen aircraft across the EU.

KLM aims to be a more sustainable airline, supporting advanced technologies such as hydrogen and electric aviation as one of three pillars to help the aviation sector decarbonise. The maintenance divisions of KLM and Air France have already been working with ZeroAvia to build the knowledge base for effective MRO operations for hydrogen fuel cell planes.

ZeroAvia has already extensively tested a prototype of its first ZA600 engine aboard a Dornier 228 aircraft at its UK base. The company has also performed advanced ground tests in the US and the UK for the key building block technologies for the ZA2000 system, including cryogenic tanks for LH2 and proprietary high-temperature PEM fuel cell and electric propulsion systems. The ZA2000 will support up to 80-seat regional turboprop aircraft such as the ATR72 or the Dash 8-400.