U.S.: American Airlines signs deal for 100 hydrogen-powered engines

On July 2, 2024, American Airlines (AA) announced that it had entered into a conditional purchase agreement with the aviation startup ZeroAvia to acquire 100 hydrogen-electric engines intended to power aircraft on its regional routes.

ZeroAvia is developing two hydrogen-electric (fuel cell-powered) engines for commercial aircraft. These engines are the ZA2000, designed for aircraft with up to 90 seats, suitable for use in planes such as the Bombardier CRJ700, which AA currently operates on some regional routes, and the ZA600 prototype, which would be ideal for aircraft with up to 20 seats.

ZeroAvia's hydrogen-electric engines utilize hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity to power electric motors that turn th