ZeroAvia, a frontrunner in hydrogen-powered aviation, is on the verge of launching the world’s first hydrogen-electric air cargo service in the UK—a significant step toward zero-emission commercial flight and a potential game-changer for the air logistics industry.

Figure 1. Hydrogen-Electric Jet.

The initiative is being developed in partnership with RVL Aviation, an aviation services firm based at East Midlands Airport. Rather than building new aircraft, the project will involve retrofitting existing Cessna Grand Caravans with ZeroAvia’s ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain.Figure 1 shows Hydrogen-Electric Jet.

This innovative propulsion system, which has been in development for several years, has already undergone extensive testing aboard a Dornier 228 aircraft. ZeroAvia’s strategy of upgrading existing planes rather than designing new hydrogen aircraft is intended to reduce costs, speed up deployment, and ease adoption for operators.

“We now have a confirmed launch operator and clear plans,” said ZeroAvia CEO and founder Val Miftakhov. This marks a major milestone for the company—while it has previously announced customers for the ZA600, this is the first time a partner has committed to full commercial deployment.

Awaiting Regulatory Green Light

Though the project is progressing quickly, the ZA600 system still requires final certification from aviation authorities. Once approved, RVL Aviation will move forward with integrating the hydrogen-electric system into its fleet.

Aircraft for the program will be supplied by MONTE, a lessor focused on zero-emission aviation. Routes for the cargo flights have already been established across the British Isles, and logistics for hydrogen fuel supply are fully arranged.

While the aircraft can’t yet carry commercial cargo until certification is granted, ZeroAvia is confident that the process will soon be complete [1]. According to Miftakhov, the collaboration with RVL Aviation is intended to demonstrate the practical value of the technology in real-world operations.

If successful, these hydrogen-powered flights will mark a global first in sustainable aviation logistics.

Laying the Groundwork for Larger Hydrogen Aircraft

The ZA600 powertrain is just the beginning. While designed for smaller planes like the nine-seat Cessna Grand Caravan, ZeroAvia is also developing a larger hydrogen-electric propulsion system—the ZA2000.

This next-generation system will feature high-temperature PEM fuel cells, cryogenic liquid hydrogen tanks, and electric propulsion systems, enabling flight for larger aircraft such as the ATR72 and Dash 8 400, capable of transporting up to 80 passengers.

Even before the ZA2000 becomes available, the ZA600 offers a scalable, lower-emission solution that operators can deploy now by retrofitting current aircraft—making sustainable aviation more accessible in the near term.

Though an official launch date hasn’t been announced, all key components are in place: aircraft, flight routes, fuel infrastructure, and partners. All that remains is regulatory approval—after which, the world’s first hydrogen-electric cargo flights could soon take off from UK skies.

Reference:

1. https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/worlds-first-hydrogen-electric-cargo-flights

Cite this article:

Keerthana S (2025), Hydrogen-Electric Jet Cargo Flights to Take Off in UK For the First Time, AnaTechMaz, pp.323