American Airlines is purchasing 100 hydrogen-powered engines to transform its regional aircraft to a fleet with zero inflight emissions.
The conditional purchase agreement with ZeroAvia, a manufacturer of hydrogen-electric propulsion and fueling solutions, will contribute to American’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. ZeroAvia is developing fuel cell-powered engines for commercial aircraft and currently testing a prototype for a 20-seat plane.
“Advancing the transition of commercial aviation to a low-carbon future requires investments in promising technologies, including alternate forms of propulsion,” Robert Isom, CEO of American Airlines said in a release. “This announcement will help accelerate the development of technologies needed to power our industry and uphold our commitment to make American a sustainable airline so we can continue to deliver for customers for decades to come.”
Hydrogen-electric engines have been long discussed by leaders in the aviation industry to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to jet fuel. However, there is still a lot of work to be done until it can completely replace a fuel-powered engine. For example, fuel allows for large aircraft to fly long distances, and a hydrogen-powered aircraft cannot yet do that.
ZeroAvia’s engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which then powers electric motors to turn an airplane’s propellers. The only inflight emission is low-temperature water vapor, and less-intense electrical systems in an aircraft have the potential for cost savings.
American first invested in ZeroAvia in 2022 and now is also investing in the company’s Series C financing round. ZeroAvia has also been designing an engine for larger aircraft such as the Bombardier CRJ700, which American flies on some of its regional routes. ZeroAvia has submitted its first powertrain for 20-seat planes for certification with a target by the end of next year and is working on a powertrain for 40-80-seat aircraft by 2027.
American and other carriers have made strides over the years to invest in the future of flying.
In 2021, American invested in Vertical Aerospace, a UK-headquartered engineering and aeronautical business developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, otherwise known as eVTOLs. In 2022, American and Boom Supersonic made a deal for the air carrier to purchase up to 20 Overture aircraft, planes expected to carry passengers at twice the speed of today’s fastest commercial aircraft.
Recently, Southwest Airlines made a $30 million investment into a sustainable aviation fuel technology provider and launching a new subsidiary dedicated to it.
