New report urges UK Government to convert early lead into long-term advantage, as global race for hydrogen-powered flight accelerates

London, 2 September, 2026

The Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance (HIA), representing leading aviation and aerospace businesses in the UK, has today launched a new report in Parliament cautioning that while the UK has made significant progress on hydrogen-powered flight through technology demonstrations, regulatory advances and R&D investment, urgent action is needed to avoid losing ground to international competitors.

The businesses who authored the report, Airbus, Bristol Airport, easyJet, Intelligent Energy, GKN Aerospace, and Rolls-Royce, make up the HIA, whose core mission is to ensure the UK maximises its opportunity to be a global leader in hydrogen-powered aviation, strengthening the UK’s industrial competitiveness and growth.

Hydrogen-powered aviation presents Britain with an opportunity to convert its already successful aerospace industry into long-term industrial capability, high-value manufacturing, exportable technology and skilled jobs across the nations and regions of the UK. It can also help preserve the economic and social benefits of aviation for future generations, as the sector decarbonises.

With distinctive strengths in aerospace engineering, regulation and research, the UK is well-poised to remain at the forefront of hydrogen-powered aviation, but only if early progress is converted into coordinated delivery as the global race towards commercialisation accelerates.

HIA’s latest report identifies urgent gaps in liquid hydrogen supply for R&D and testing, airport infrastructure and the pathway from research to commercialising technology. The Alliance is therefore calling for a National Hydrogen Flight Programme bringing together industry, regulators, cross-government departments and bodies, and regional stakeholders to create the right conditions for successful commercialisation. Other recommendations include developing pioneer airports and initial flight routes, delivering a hydrogen supply plan for aviation, and continued support for strategically important UK aircraft technology.

Commenting on the UK’s significant hydrogen aviation leadership opportunity, HIA Chair, Andy Reynolds, said:

“Other nations are moving quickly to capture the economic, climate and strategic benefits of a transition towards hydrogen powered aviation. If the UK is to do the same, we must harness our advantages in aerospace research and testing capability. In this report, HIA has identified the areas of hydrogen aviation development that most urgently need action, and where we believe government and industry can collaborate to convert early progress into national delivery.”

HIA’s report finds that progress is strongest in long-term aerospace R&D funding, regulatory capability, analysis of hydrogen demand for aviation, and early hydrogen flight routes. Recent milestones include Rolls-Royce and easyJet’s successful hydrogen propulsion technology tests, and Airbus’ intention to establish a new Joint Venture with MTU Aero Engines to develop a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell engine. The UK Government is also backing hydrogen-powered aviation, having recently awarded funding for regional flights powered by liquid hydrogen, with the first to take off from Bristol Airport.

Delivering regional flights will be an important step towards building the evidence and skills base needed to scale up to larger flights. This progress also demonstrates that the UK has moved from early enthusiasm around hydrogen to a stronger, evidence-based understanding of where to direct resources to make commercial hydrogen flight a reality.

However, HIA’s report also finds that other countries are moving quickly to establish hydrogen supply, airport infrastructure and the policy frameworks that will encourage adoption. To maintain the UK’s competitive position, HIA is calling on the Government to create a National Hydrogen Flight Programme which would bring together industry, regulators, cross-government departments and bodies, and regional stakeholders.

Other recommendations to the UK Government are:

 Airports

1. Government should provide targeted early support for hydrogen pioneer airports and initial routes, including infrastructure funding, regulatory learning, operational trials, skills development and, where necessary, time-limited route support. 

Aircraft

1. Government should strengthen the Aerospace Technology Institute’s (ATI) role in hydrogen aviation by developing clear mechanisms to support technologies beyond TRL6 and ensuring hydrogen-powered aviation remains a priority within the UK’s aerospace R&D portfolio.
2. Government should work with UK Research and Innovation, ATI, universities and industry to protect the UK’s sovereign fundamental research capability in aerospace technologies relevant to hydrogen-powered flight.

Hydrogen Fuel

1. Aviation should be recognised as a strategic use case for hydrogen when developing policies around hydrogen production, transport, and storage.
2. Government should develop an aviation hydrogen supply plan, setting out how sufficient low-carbon hydrogen will be secured.

The UK is uniquely placed to seize the opportunity of hydrogen-powered aviation, with a proud history of excellence across the whole aerospace ecosystem. Acting swiftly on HIA’s recommendations will help to ensure that the UK can translate its strong position into a long-term advantage and new growth opportunities across all nations and regions of the UK.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Victoria Grayling: victoria.grayling@airbus.com

Notes to Editors:

• The UK aerospace industry is the second largest in the world and has a reputation as a centre for excellence.^[1]
• The UK aviation and aerospace sectors are crown jewels for UK innovation, intellectual property, trade, and exports. In 2025, the UK aerospace sector had a turnover of £34bn, contributing £23.2bn in exports, and directly employing over 100,000 people across the UK.^[2] 60% of UK Parliamentary constituencies have 500 or more people working in aerospace, aviation, or in the wider supply chain.
• In 2023, aviation accounted for 8% of UK emissions. Globally, aviation is responsible for 2.1% of all human-induced CO2 emissions.^[3]
• HIA members are delivering key hydrogen-powered aviation projects across 2026, including:
  • Airbus has already broken ground on its ZEROe Development Centre (ZEDC), a new hydrogen testing facility, which will anchor the company’s hydrogen fuel systems testing in the South West with the ambition to share this capability with other industry partners in the region.
  • Bristol Airport is collaborating with the CHOSAN consortium to demonstrate liquid hydrogen as a viable fuel for next generation of commercial aviation. The project, funded by the Department for Transport and supported by Innovate UK, will deliver a series of regional flights in an aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen, with the inaugural flight taking off from Bristol Airport.
  • GKN Aerospace is advancing UK-backed hydrogen-electric propulsion programmes, including the £54 million H2GEAR programme, delivered with partners including fellow Hydrogen in Aviation member Intelligent Energy. H2GEAR established world-leading capability in cryogenic engineering and hydrogen systems integration – technologies which GKN Aerospace is now maturing through flagship follow-on programmes H2FlyGHT and ICEFLIGHT. Together, these initiatives are accelerating the development of multi-megawatt-class hydrogen-electric propulsion systems, incorporating advanced cryogenic power distribution and management technologies capable of transforming the future of sustainable aviation.
  • Throughout 2026, Intelligent Energy (IE) will advance the HEIGHTS programme – a £17 million government-backed project developing a 300kW modular fuel cell system for eVTOL and regional aircraft. IE’s new Fuel Cell Test Facility in Northamptonshire will enable full-power testing to accelerate aviation deployment.
  • Rolls-Royce and easyJet are completing their four-year hydrogen gas turbine demonstration programme. In April, they announced the successful completion of the testing of a Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engine on 100% hydrogen. This industry-first achievement has proven that a jet engine can safely run on hydrogen to full take-off thrust and through a full flight cycle. The programme has delivered valuable insights into hydrogen combustion, fuel systems and engine integration – that will shape the delivery of future hydrogen-powered aircraft – strengthening their confidence that the gas turbine will remain at the forefront of sustainable aviation’s future.

[1] ICAEW: Aerospace in the UK: industry profile

[2] ADS Aerospace Sector UK Outlook 2025

[3] Climate Change Committee’s Seventh Carbon Budget