Joe Breitfeller
Dec 13, 20212 min
Through a new equity stake in ZeroAvia, United has today become the largest airline to invest in zero emission hydrogen-electric engines for regional aircraft. United expects to purchase up to 100 of ZeroAvia’s new ZA2000-RJ hydrogen-electric engines.
On Monday (December 13, 2021), United Airlines announced that through a new equity stake in ZeroAvia, the company will become the largest airline to invest in zero emission hydrogen-electric engines for regional aircraft. United expects to purchase up to 100 ZeroAvia ZA2000-RJ engines which could be used to retrofit the existing fleet of United Express aircraft by 2028. One potential application would be to re-engine United’s unique CRJ-550s, the only 50-seat aircraft offering First Class and other premium amenities. Hydrogen-electric engines use electricity created by a chemical reaction in a fuel cell to power an electric motor rather than burning fossil fuel, thereby eliminating climate-harming emissions.
In Today’s announcement, United Airlines’ CEO, Scott Kirby, said,
“Hydrogen-electric engines are one of the most promising paths to zero-emission air travel for smaller aircraft, and this investment will keep United out in front on this important emerging technology. United continues to look for opportunities to not only advance our own sustainability initiatives but also identify and help technologies and solutions that the entire industry can adopt.”
Also commenting on United’s new equity stake, ZeroAvia’s Founder and CEO, Val Miftakhov, said,
“This support by United, alongside our other forward-thinking partners, demonstrates the importance of hydrogen-electric propulsion in the future of sustainable flight. The United Express routes powered by hydrogen-electric aircraft will be enabling large numbers of passengers to take zero-emission flights well within this decade.”
ZeroAvia’s ZA2000-RJ engines are expected to be used in pairs as a new power source for existing regional aircraft. Under the agreement with United Airlines Ventures, United will pursue a conditional purchase agreement for 50 engines, with an option for 50 more, enough to power up to 50 twin-engine aircraft in the fleets of United Express partners. ZeroAvia is accelerating ZA2000-RJ development and will soon begin ground tests on their ZA600 engine in a 19-seat aircraft, with the goal of entering commercial service with the smaller engine by 2024. In September 2020, the company completed the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered flight of a commercial-grade aircraft.
Source: United Airlines