The Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance (HIA) has been created to ensure that hydrogen-powered flights can deliver net zero aviation while still preserving the social and economic benefits of flying. HIA focuses on addressing the challenges of re-engineering the fuel supply chain and developing aircraft technologies that can efficiently access hydrogen while meeting the demands of efficient airline operations.
The UK has a rich history of aviation ‘firsts’ and continues to lead the way with world-class technologies that support a desire for the UK to connect around the world. HIA believes that hydrogen-powered aviation will be realised, and the UK can build on this rich heritage to establish itself as a world leader in this innovation. It will not be easy or quick, and we need to build both the technological and operational capability and the regulatory and policy landscape that will enable it.
The HIA is a collaboration of experts and professionals from different sectors, such as energy production, technology development, airline and airport operations. This organisation aims to work collaboratively with the government, regulators and other stakeholders to identify the necessary actions to make hydrogen-based aviation a reality.
Airbus
Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide the most efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers the most modern and fuel-efficient airliners. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world’s leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.
Airbus’ ambition is to bring to market the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft. To get there, our ZEROe project is exploring a variety of configurations and technologies, as well as preparing the ecosystem that will produce and supply the hydrogen. Airbus is meeting a number of technology and testing milestones as it moves towards its ambition of bringing to market. Many of these milestones revolve around establishing the means of propulsion, either with hybrid hydrogen-electric fuel cells or direct hydrogen combustion. Airbus believes the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure at airports is a prerequisite to support the widespread scale-up and adoption of hydrogen aircraft. We’re partnering with hydrogen producers and distributors worldwide, airports and airlines to build the right ecosystem to operate a hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport is England’s third largest regional airport, connecting the Southwest of England and South Wales with more than 120 destinations. The Airport have taken a leading position on sustainability, becoming the first in the country to target net zero carbon operations by 2030 and to set an interim carbon target.
Bristol Airport is here to connect the people and communities of our region to new places, new experiences, and to enable visitors from all over the world to experience this wonderful region for themselves. We’re committed to doing this in a responsible way. This includes creating a great place for people to work, mitigating our environmental impacts and emissions, and supporting our region to thrive socially and economically. Our vision is to be everyone’s favourite airport, delivering a future we can all be proud of.
easyJet
easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports with great value fares and friendly service.
easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline and carried more than 82 million passengers in 2023 with more than 11.3 million travelling for business. The airline has over 300 aircraft flying on nearly 1000 routes to more than 155 airports across 35 countries. Over 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport.
easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in eight countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports several local charities and has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised nearly £17m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.
In 2022, easyJet published its roadmap to net zero by 2050. The roadmap, which also features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon removal technology, has set an ambitious interim carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 35% by 2035, validated by the Science-based targets initiative (SBTi). The airline’s ultimate aim is to fully transition its fleet to zero carbon emission technology, which it will achieve through a number of strategic partnerships including with Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace Solutions. Since 2000, the airline has successfully reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third.
Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – since launching nearly 30 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for its passengers.
In 2023 easyJet was named by TIME as one of the World’s Best Companies and a Leader in Diversity 2024 by The Financial Times.
GKN Aerospace
GKN Aerospace is the original aerospace innovator. For decades, GKN Aerospace technologies have inspired and industrialized the aerospace industry, combining engineering excellence and technology leadership.
Today we are truly global, with 15,000 employees in 38 manufacturing locations in 12 countries around the world. All major aircraft and engine manufacturers rely on our advanced technologies. Our aerostructures, engine systems and special products improve the performance of more than 100,000 flights every day.
By working closely together with universities, knowledge institutes, suppliers and customers, we lead the industry in developing new technology to improve aircraft efficiency: lowering aircraft cost, weight and emissions.
We set the standard in highlighting the unlimited possibilities of additive manufacturing (AM) for the aerospace industry and are currently at the cutting-edge of technology leadership worldwide. Today, GKN Aerospace has five global centres of excellence that enable the most advanced aircraft to take to the sky with ground-breaking AM components.
GKN Aerospace’s operational excellence and high volume production capabilities are now driving the global development towards more automation, higher performance and smart industry solutions. The result is shorter production lead times and more affordability for our global customers.
Every day, around the world, we help aircraft fly further, faster and greener.
Ørsted
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, renewable hydrogen and green fuels facilities, and bioenergy plants.
Ørsted is recognised on the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action and was the first energy company in the world to have its science-based net-zero emissions target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Headquartered in Denmark, Ørsted’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2023, the group’s revenue was DKK 79.3 billion (EUR 10.6 billion). Visit Orsted.co.uk or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc
Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. It is at the centre of UK aerospace and defence and its products and service packages enable its customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together; they meet the growing need for power generation across multiple industries; and enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens.
Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising of more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. It is committed to making its products compatible with net zero carbon emissions to meet customer demand for more sustainable solutions.
ZeroAvia
ZeroAvia is a leader in zero-emission aviation developing hydrogen-electric (fuel cell-powered) engines as the most environmentally and economically friendly solution for addressing the industry’s climate impact.
The company has developed and flight-tested the world’s most advanced prototypes, and raised over $250millon in private funding, which has been primarily invested into the UK. CEO, Val Miftakhov, is a member of the Jet Zero Council and ZeroAvia has nearly 250 employees across its main UK locations in Kemble, Sandwich and London.
With flight testing well underway, ZeroAvia is now preparing to begin manufacturing ZA600, the first commercial zero-emission engines for aircraft which will support up to 20 seat planes, for delivery in 2025. The company is also advanced in the development of a larger engine for 80 seat planes, and planning market entry by 2027. ZeroAvia plans to establish a first-of-a-kind production facility to meet the demand it has established in the shape of 2,000 engine pre-orders. With partnerships in place with the likes of Airbus, United and IAG, and backed by the likes of Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Amazon, ZeroAvia will certify its engines in the UK, and is looking to export to customers globally.