World's first ever hydrogen-electric air cargo service is going to launch in the UK
- The world’s first hydrogen-electric air cargo service is set to launch
- It comes via a partnership between ZeroAvia and RVL Aviation
- It will be introduced in the UK
Published on May 15, 2025 at 8:42 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on May 15, 2025 at 11:50 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
ZeroAvia has partnered with RVL Aviation to launch the world’s first zero-emission hydrogen-electric air cargo services.
Hydrogen-electric aviation specialists ZeroAvia have announced it will be joining forces with RVL Aviation, an aviation services provider at East Midlands Airport in the UK, to bring the pioneering new cargo service.
The service is thought to be the first of its kind in the world and could usher in a new era of emission-free cargo services.
The new hydrogen-electric air cargo service won’t require new aircraft, but will instead retrofit next-generation hydrogen propulsion systems on Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft.
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The name ZeroAvia may be familiar to you, as the company is a rising star in the hydrogen-electric aviation industry.
It previously partnered with Swiss-based start-up Jekta to create a hydrogen-electric powertrain for its flying boats, and with Natilus for its upcoming Kona transporter.
And its latest partnership will see it fitting its hydrogen-electric, zero-emission ZA600 powertrains into RVL Aviation Cessna Grand Caravan 208B aircraft.
The flights will begin once certification for the engine, airframe integration, and planned services are obtained and all retrofit and training work is complete.
ZeroAvia says there are currently around 1,000 aircraft operating cargo routes across the globe that could be powered by ZA600 powertrains in the future.
ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity that powers electric motors. The only byproduct is water, meaning it is a truly sustainable method.
RVL has said the move is a ‘crucial step forward’ in its goal to become the ‘heart’ of the worldwide efforts to completely decarbonize the sector.
“The team at ZeroAvia has done a remarkable job to lead and progress this technology, and everyone at RVL Aviation is proud to be on this path alongside other forward-thinking businesses,” said RVL Aviation CEO Dave Connor.
“Sustainability is not a single action. Rather, it is a series of steps: some small, some large, that add up to the inexorable progress that society demands and we all seek.
“This zero-emission initiative is a large step, and we look forward to operating the first scheduled commercial flights by this aircraft.”
ZeroAvia CEE Val Miftakhov said that customers are wanting to operate the first routes and that the firm must now ‘double its attention’ on getting the certification testing in the bag so it can achieve this.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
