A global leader in developing zero-emission solutions in commercial aviation, ZeroAvia, announced its four-part partnership in northern Sweden on March 29th. ZeroAvia has partnered with Skellefteå Airport, Skellefteå Kraft, and Braathens Regional Airlines. Skellefteå Airport, located in northeastern Sweden, remains one of the top ten airports in the Scandinavian country, paired with municipal energy company Skellefteå Kraft.

Skellefteå Airport hopes the new partnership will nurture plans to investigate further the operational infrastructure required to support hydrogen-powered flights and future opportunities to reduce carbonization.

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Joining the party is Braathens Regional Airlines, which sits as one of Sweden's most prominent domestic operators, with plans to explore commercial routes to demonstrate zero-emission aviation.

Braathens Regional Airlines

The Swedish carrier, which maintains a current fleet of 14 ATR-72 aircraft deployed on routes across Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, will see, in the coming months, eight Airbus A319/320 to sustain charter operations.

The partnership plans to examine the potential for operating regional aircraft on commercial routes using ZeroAvia's technologies, such as the ZA600 powertrain, designed for 9–19 seat aircraft, identifying a proposed 2025 launch target. In addition, the ZA2000 is intended for 40–80 seat aircraft (poised for partnerships with ATR and Dash 8 aircraft). The latter system is expected to take off by 2027.

Sweden is a critical driver in the movement of lowering emissions, with aims to be fossil fuel-free by 2045, with ZeroAvia's system poised to accelerate the country's ambitions. ZeroAvia's website noted:

Hydrogen-electric propulsion promises lower operating costs and zero-emission flights for airlines, as well as reduced air and noise pollution around airport locations. These benefits can, in turn, mean greater use of regional air travel, increasing productivity and connectivity and boosting regional economies.

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A statement from ZeroAvia's CEO, James Peck:

“Sweden is one of the most ambitious countries in the world in pursuit of net zero targets for aviation, with an overall fossil fuel-free aspiration by 2045, and planning for all domestic flights to be fossil free by 2030. Aviation will become a larger proportion of emissions as other sectors abate, so the country will need to see true zero-emission air travel beyond combustion fuels. Bold projects like the one planned for Skellefteå are crucial in this endeavor.”

ZeroAvia over process
Photo: ZeroAvia

The developer's latest move with Sweden identifies industry acknowledgment within zero-emission technologies, with a further dedication to the ZeroAvia product. The developer wants to introduce further its zero-emission propulsion on regional routes, where electric movement is possible.

Partnerships have already been established with Rotterdam, The Hague Airport in the Netherlands, Edmonton International Airport in Canada, and AGS and Birmingham Airports already in action.

With 1,500 provision orders with ZeroAvia for hydrogen-electric powertrains for the next 18 months, carriers such as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, ASL Ireland, and Ravn Alaska, along with a list of lessors, is just the start of ZeroAvia's ambitions for carbon-free flights shortly.

Sources: ZeroAvia