A prototype hydrogen-powered aircraft has completed the first transatlantic zero-emission flight, landing at London Heathrow this morning after a 6-hour journey from New York. The aircraft, developed by a consortium of European aerospace firms and backed by the UK government, emitted only water vapour during the flight. The successful crossing marks a significant step towards decarbonising long-haul aviation, a sector long considered difficult to wean off fossil fuels.
The plane, a modified regional jet, carried 40 passengers and a full cargo hold. Its liquid hydrogen fuel cells powered two electric motors, producing no CO2. The consortium now aims for commercial service by 2035, pending regulatory approval and infrastructure development.
Heathrow expects to have hydrogen refuelling facilities operational by 2030. Environmental groups cautiously welcomed the milestone but stressed the need for rapid scaling of green hydrogen production, which currently accounts for less than 1% of global hydrogen output. The flight follows smaller demonstrations in Europe and Asia but is the first to cross the Atlantic without stopovers.
Aviation accounts for 2–3% of global CO2 emissions. The sector has pledged to achieve net zero by 2050.
