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

This partnership is a step in the right direction for achieving more sustainable aviation with cleaner energy sources. While Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is being used, it is a short-term solution. New technologies such as hydrogen and electric operations are longer-term solutions for greener flights.

By collaborating, KLM and ZeroAvia provide the evidence base for adopting cleaner flight on KLM’s network. Furthermore, the demonstration project will accelerate the development of concepts of operations for hydrogen aircraft across the EU.

Sustainability Key to AirFrance-KLM Group  

KLM aims to be a more sustainable airline. Supporting advanced technologies such as hydrogen and electric aviation is one of three pillars that help the aviation sector decarbonize. 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.

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.  Maarten Koopmans, Managing Director, KLM Cityhopper

Hydrogen-electric Engines  

Hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, then power electric motors to turn the aircraft’s propellers. The only emission is low-temperature water vapor, and studies estimate an up to 90% reduction in climate impact compared with typical kerosene-fueled flights.

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. Sergey Kiselev, Chief Business Officer, ZeroAvia

Moreover, this is a significant milestone for the companies, which aim to conduct an initial A-to-B flight demonstration between two airport locations in 2026. In addition to identifying the optimal airport pair, immediate workstreams will focus on obtaining regulatory permits to fly, ensuring the supply of liquid hydrogen fuel, and establishing the supporting infrastructure for aircraft fueling.