KLM and ZeroAvia plan liquid hydrogen demonstration flight

ZeroAvia and Dutch flag carrier KLM  are working together to fly a liquid hydrogen demonstration flight using ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 engines.

As a first milestone, the companies are planning to conduct an initial A-to-B flight demonstration between two airport locations in 2026. In order to make this happen ZeroAvia and KLM need to select an airport pairing, attain regulatory permits to fly, ensure a supply of liquid hydrogen and buildout the infrastructure required for aircraft fuelling.

James Peck, chief customer officer at ZeroAvia said: “The world’s largest airlines are diving in to explore hydrogen-electric as a potential solution with increasing seriousness. We can’t wait to work with KLM, being an airline with such rich history, as we look towards a clean future for the industry.”

The maintenance divisions of KLM and Air France have already been working with ZeroAvia to build the knowledge base for conducting MRO on hydrogen fuel cell aircraft.

Maarten Koopmans, MD at KLM Cityhopper said: “KLM aims to be a front-runner in the journey towards a more sustainable future in aviation. That’s why we actively support and encourage innovation to drive industry change. When it comes to the future of zero-emission flights, KLM supports various technologies and innovations simultaneously. Together with our sector partners, we are conducting research on electric, hydrogen, and hybrid-powered flights and exploring ways to expedite these advancements.” 

The announcement follows news earlier this week that amphibious aircraft developer Jekta has selected ZeroAvia’s fuel cell technology to demonstrate the concept of a hydrogen-powered variant of its electric amphibious flying boat design. Powered by ZeroAvia’s fuel cell PGS, it is anticipated Jekta’s aircraft, aka the PHA-ZE 100, will achieve a range of up to 600km and increase the payload by as much as one tonne.