Visualisation of a Loganair hydrogen-powered Britten-Norman Islander flying in Orkney

The UK’s largest regional airline Loganair is taking further steps towards its objective to deliver sustainable regional flights by exploring how hydrogen infrastructure could be rolled out across Scotland as part of a new partnership.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced the expansion of the ‘Hydrogen Challenge’ with the launch of a second round of programmes. Phase two of the challenge will see Loganair, take steps to progress hydrogen fuel operations from its Orkney base.

As part of the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE), Loganair in partnership with Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL), AGS Ltd, European and Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) and Orkney Islands Council will use Kirkwall Airport as a test to explore how hydrogen fuel infrastructure would be rolled out across aircraft and airports in Scotland.

Loganair has identified various short-haul routes from Orkney which are perfect for hydrogen-fuelled services, with the second phase of this programme testing the necessary infrastructure required to operate these services long term.

Loganair has a broad and comprehensive range of sustainable flight initiatives underway including a partnership with Heart Aerospace on a hybrid-electric propelled aircraft, as well as embracing the challenge to meet the SAF mandate. It is Loganair’s belief that it is in the best interest of the company and the environment to keep a broad range of options and venues open. The hydrogen challenge is an important part of this portfolio of work.

Rebecca Borresen, Director of Safety and Sustainability at Loganair said:

“Loganair is a true industry leader in this space, and we are very proud of the strides we have taken forward in making sustainable regional aviation a reality.

“We are at the cutting edge of innovation and are working hard with key industry partners across a range of sustainability projects. This project aims to meet the ambition of delivering the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial flight before 2030.

“The second phase of the ‘Hydrogen Challenge’ will allow us to further test operations and work with our partners to create the necessary building blocks to allow the use of commercially viable hydrogen aircrafts.”

Tim Johnson, Director of Communications, Strategy and Policy at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

“These trials keep the UK on course to be a world leader in hydrogen propulsion.

“We are working with some of the most innovative companies and minds to better understand this technology and how it might be introduced safely in the aerospace sector. In doing so, it offers the potential to enable a more sustainable aerospace system and support UK economic growth.”

Jayne Golding, SATE manager, HITRANS, said:

“Hydrogen fuel offers the aviation industry a significant opportunity to operate more sustainably. Our work in the Highlands & Islands will feed into the wider CAA initiative to help us understand how we can roll out a hydrogen fuel infrastructure on a commercial scale which will be a game changer for reducing air transport emissions.”