Loganair is exploring how hydrogen infrastructure could be rolled out across Scotland as part of a new partnership.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced the expansion of the ‘Hydrogen Challenge’ with the launch of a second round of programmes.
Loganair plans to progress hydrogen fuel operations from Kirkwall Airport to test
short-haul routes from Orkney
Rebecca Borresen, sustainability director at Loganair said: “We are at the cutting edge of innovation and are working hard with key industry partners across a range of sustainability projects.
“This project aims to meet the ambition of delivering the world’s first hydrogen-powered
commercial flight before 2030.
“The second phase of the ‘Hydrogen Challenge’ will allow us to further test operations and work with our partners to create the necessary building blocks to allow the use of commercially viable hydrogen aircrafts.”
Tim Johnson, strategy director at the CAA, said: “These trials keep the UK on course to be a world leader in hydrogen propulsion.
“We are working with some of the most innovative companies and minds to better understand this technology and how it might be introduced safely in the aerospace sector. In doing so, it offers the potential to enable a more sustainable aerospace system and support UK economic growth.”
Jayne Golding, SATE manager, HITRANS, said: “Hydrogen fuel offers the aviation industry a significant opportunity to operate more sustainably.
“Our work in the Highlands and Islands will feed into the wider CAA initiative to help us understand how we can roll out a hydrogen fuel infrastructure on a commercial scale which will be a game changer for reducing air transport emissions.”
As part of the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE), Loganair in partnership with Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL), AGS Ltd, European and Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) and Orkney Islands Council will use Kirkwall Airport as a test to explore how hydrogen fuel infrastructure would be rolled out across aircraft and airports in Scotland.
Loganair aims to launch ‘world’s first’ commercial flights with hydrogen fuelled planes by 2030
12 February 2025
