A new collaboration between air industry giants including easyJet, Airbus and London Gatwick Airport is set to bolster hydrogen capabilities and infrastructure in the UK. Olivia Palamountain reports
In a move towards sustainable air travel, easyJet has announced a partnership with Airbus, London Gatwick Airport, and gas supplier, Air Products, focused on developing crucial infrastructure for hydrogen-powered flight.
The partnership, part of Airbus’ Hydrogen Hubs at Airports framework, brings together key players in the aviation industry: Airbus as the aircraft manufacturer, London Gatwick as the airport operator, easyJet as the airline, and Air Products as the world’s largest hydrogen supplier.
This combination of expertise and resources underscores the aviation sector’s commitment to sustainable air travel and supports Airbus’s goal of launching a hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035.
Airbus vice president ZEROe project Glenn Llewellyn says: “Our licence to operate hinges on finding better ways to fly. We know hydrogen has the versatility to be an excellent fuel source for decarbonising the industry. We’ve set ambitious targets to fly on hydrogen by 2035 and this technology needs to be supported by reliable and tested infrastructure. Sharing knowledge and best practice at airports will be critical for building the right hydrogen ecosystem around the world and we look forward to working with all consortium members to develop the support for the technology and end-to-end hydrogen supply chain that will power future flight.”
The scope of work encompasses liquid hydrogen supply and storage at London Gatwick, refuelling and ground handling of hydrogen aircraft and exploration of other short-term opportunities for hydrogen use at the airport.
London Gatwick’s position as the UK’s leading hub for short to medium-haul routes makes it an ideal testbed for research and development into critical support infrastructure.
Stewart Wingate, CEO, London Gatwick, says: “Alongside Sustainable Aviation Fuels, hydrogen stands out as having real potential to help us decarbonise Scope 3 emissions at the airport, particularly for the short haul aircraft that dominate London Gatwick’s operations.
“In parallel we’ve accelerated our plans and aim to be net zero for the emissions we control – Scope 1 and 2 – ten years early, by 2030. We still have a long way to go and a lot of hard work to do, but today’s exciting partnership is an important early step toward reaching our net zero ambitions.”
Meanwhile, easyJet’s operational expertise as a short-haul carrier will provide valuable insights into the practical aspects of implementing hydrogen-powered flights.
David Morgan, director of flight operations at easyJet, says: “Hydrogen is going to play an important role in decarbonising aviation so we need to lay the groundwork now to make that happen. The Gatwick hub is another positive signal and demonstrates the industry’s intent to both adapt and work together to reach the common goal of decarbonising aviation. Combined with support from regulators and policymakers, I’ve no doubt that projects like this will act as the building blocks to prepare UK airports for a hydrogen transition – something that will be critical to achieving our net zero ambitions.”
As the aviation industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, initiatives such as this partnership are crucial in paving the way for greener air travel.
The success of this project could have far-reaching implications for the future of aviation, potentially leading to a significant reduction in the sector’s environmental impact.
While the target date of 2035 for hydrogen-powered flight may seem distant, the complexities involved in developing the necessary technology and infrastructure make such long-term planning essential.