Summary
- American Airlines conditionally purchases 100 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia for regional jets.
- The airline aims to reduce net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- ZeroAvia is working on a 20-seater hydrogen-powered aircraft, targeting larger regional aircraft engines like Bombardier CRJ700.
American Airlines has signaled its interest in hydrogen as a future aviation fuel source, making a conditional purchase for 100 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia. The agreement builds on an MoU signed between the two companies in 2022. Hydrogen would be used to create electricity, which would, in turn, power the engines.
American Airlines
, like IATA, has set a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal by 2050. Airlines across the industry must use various tools to reach these goals, including sustainable aviation fuel and alternate future fuels. To help achieve these goals, many companies, including
ZeroAvia
, are hard at work on futureproofing aviation.
American Airlines
- IATA/ICAO Code
-
AA/AAL
- Year Founded
-
1926
- CEO
-
Robert Isom
Purchasing 100 engines
American Airlines today revealed that it has signed a conditional purchase agreement for 100 hydrogen-electric aircraft engines as part of its journey to net zero. The airline is planning to place these engines on regional jet aircraft. As the only product of hydrogen fuel is water vapor, they are considered zero-emission.
Photo: ZeroAvia
Right now, ZeroAvia is working on making a 20-seater hydrogen-powered aircraft. Still, it has its sights set on an engine that could power larger existing regional aircraft, such as the Bombardier CRJ700.
American Airlines hasn’t revealed the financials or the conditions of the purchase. One would expect that American Airlines is helping to finance the development of the engine, as it already has helped to finance ZeroAvia in 2022 and with its Series C financing.
Related
American Airlines Invests In Hydrogen-Electric Engines From ZeroAvia
The carrier is the latest in a long line of high-profile investors and says it hopes the deal will help American Airlines “thrive forever.”
Commenting on the agreement, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom remarked,
“Advancing the transition of commercial aviation to a low-carbon future requires investments in promising technologies, including alternate forms of propulsion. This announcement will help accelerate the development of technologies needed to power our industry and uphold our commitment to make American a sustainable airline so we can continue to deliver for customers for decades to come”
Universal Hydrogen closes down
This latest American Airlines-ZeroAvia tie-up comes just a week after Universal Hydrogen, another company eyeing hydrogen-powered flights, shut its doors. Universal Hydrogen could not secure additional investment after burning through its initial funding. This company had hoped to work with Silver Airways to retrofit hydrogen-electric engines to its aircraft.
Related
Universal Hydrogen Shuts Down After Running Out Of Funds
Universal Hydrogen was attempting to pioneer the use of hydrogen as aviation fuel.
However, retrofitting hydrogen-electric engines on an aircraft is not the only avenue to zero-emission flight. Airbus is taking a different approach, intending to launch a clean-sheet hydrogen-powered aircraft called ZEROe. Airbus expects to formally launch this aircraft program by 2028. For now, it seems as though hydrogen flight will be limited to the regional sector, with other avenues needed for longer-haul net zero flights.