BA invests in carbon-free aviation firm ZeroAvia
British Airways is looking ahead to a carbon-free future with a strategic investment in sustainable aviation company ZeroAvia.
BA has joined a group of investors including Horizons Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Summa Equity, Shell Ventures, and SYSTEMIQ with a combined total of US$24.3 million invested.
The funds will help accelerate the development of aircraft capable of running on zero emissions hydrogen-electric power.
ZeroAvia says it could achieve commercialisation for its hydrogen-electric power as early as 2024, with flights of up to 500-miles in up to 20-seater aircraft.
With this new investment, ZeroAvia expects to have 50+ seat commercial aircraft in operation in five years’ time.
It is also targeting 100-seat single-aisle commercial aircraft by 2030.
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ CEO said: "Innovative zero emissions technology is advancing fast and we support the development of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source because we believe it has the potential to enable us to reach true zero emissions on short-haul routes by 2050.
"There is a huge amount of energy and excitement building around the possibilities of a zero emissions future for aviation and while there is no single solution to this challenge, we acknowledge the need for urgent action to tackle the impact flying currently has on our planet."
In September 2020, ZeroAvia said it completed the world’s first hydrogen-electric flight of a commercial-grade aircraft.
British Airways’ investment in ZeroAvia follows a recent partnership between the two companies announced at the end of last year as part of IAG’s Hangar 51 accelerator programme.
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