Aircraft
British Airways Backs ZeroAvia's Plan for Hydrogen Airliner
ZeroAvia's plan for 50- and 100-seat hydrogen-powered airliners are advancing alongside several other new hybrid-electric and electric aircraft.
ZeroAvia's plans for a hydrogen-powered 50-seat regional airliner would appear to be based on converting an existing model such as an ATR 42. (Image: ZeroAvia)
ZeroAvia's plans for a hydrogen-powered 50-seat regional airliner would appear to be based on converting an existing model such as an ATR 42. (Image: ZeroAvia)

British Airways is among a group of investors backing a new $24.3 million funding round to support ZeroAvia's plans to develop a 50-seat airliner powered by hydrogen. According to the U.S.-based start-up, which has now raised nearly $74 million—including $53 million in private investment and a UK government grant of around $16.3 million—it aims to get the 50-seater into commercial service by 2026 and believes that by 2030, a 100-seat airliner could be operating with its 600 kW hydrogen-electric powertrain. Applications of the hydrogen-electric system on smaller aircraft are anticipated as early as 2024.