Hydrogen in Aviation Parliamentary Briefing

On Wednesday 5 January 2025, HIA was delighted to host a briefing with parliamentarians and officials from the Department for Transport and HM Treasury to discuss our ongoing work to deliver hydrogen-powered commercial flights in the UK.

HIA is grateful to Sadik Al-Hassan MP for sponsoring the event and to all the parliamentarians who attended and pledged to support hydrogen-powered aviation. They recognise this is a strategic opportunity for the UK because:

• The UK aerospace sector is a crown jewel for innovation, jobs and trade.
• The UK is home to some of the most innovative companies advancing hydrogen-powered aviation.
• The UK can combine its strengths in aviation and hydrogen, to become a world leader in hydrogen flight and drive growth across the UK.

HIA was also pleased to share with parliamentarians that we will be launching a UK Hydrogen Pioneer Airports Network. This network of five airports will serve as a testing ground for hydrogen aviation and will help develop the right processes, standards and regulations to support the first commercial hydrogen-powered flights.

Looking ahead, HIA will begin work with the hydrogen pioneer airports and will also focus on exploring in detail a number of the key recommendations outlined in its milestone delivery report – including around hydrogen regulation and energy infrastructure – looking at the steps needed to make the UK ready for the hydrogen transition. 

The benefits of hydrogen-powered flight are many and varied: 

Decarbonising aviation is a significant challenge which will require the successful deployment and implementation of multiple technologies and approaches, including SAF, as well as hydrogen. However, the use of hydrogen as an aircraft fuel can offer significant carbon saving benefits compared to other technologies, with green hydrogen (eletrolysed with renewable energy) producing no carbon emissions.

Making the investment in hydrogen now will help to secure and grow the value aviation brings as a vital part of the UK economy. The UK aviation industry contributes more than £22bn directly to GDP, plus £34bn from exporting aerospace components. The industry directly employs over 230,000 people.  

Unlocking the potential of hydrogen will also help to preserve the social benefits of flying, continuing to connect consumers to business, loved ones and new destinations.  

Lastly it will create jobs. In terms of hydrogen, the Hydrogen Skills Workforce Assessment estimated that the UK hydrogen economy could support 29,000 direct jobs by 2030, as well as 64,500 indirect jobs.

The UK is in a strong position to lead the global roll-out of hydrogen in aviation. If we seize this potential, we can transition and upskill existing workforces, whilst creating thousands more jobs through exporting UK-made technologies and knowledge.