Hamburg Airport, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport, and Hamburg Aviation have announced an innovative collaboration focused on the feasibility of a route for hydrogen-powered aircraft between the two cities.
This pioneering venture represents not just the development of a new flight path but a significant stride toward a sustainable aviation future.
Envisioned to start its first hydrogen flight by 2026, this project is far more than just a feasibility study. The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) includes cooperation on infrastructure for hydrogen use, digital aviation, renewable energy production, employee training, and smart airport technologies. This, in essence, represents a comprehensive ecosystem for clean energy aviation.
Michael Eggenschwiler, CEO at Hamburg Airport, emphasized their ambitious Net Zero 2035 climate protection program, aiming to reduce the airport’s fossil CO2 emissions to zero within twelve years. “The planned hydrogen flight route between Hamburg and Rotterdam is a very good example of how strong partners are pooling their strengths, to develop and implement sustainable aviation using practical examples,” he stated. This initiative aligns with Hamburg’s goal, setting a precedent as the first major commercial airport in Germany to target net-zero emissions.
Equally enthusiastic, Wilma van Dijk, Managing Director of Rotterdam The Hague Airport, shared their profound ambitions for enhancing airport sustainability and contributing to sustainable aviation. She noted the collaboration’s potential for accelerating the energy transition in aviation by sharing their expertise in hydrogen infrastructure and operations, along with their innovative real-world laboratory.
The mutual sentiment of excitement is shared by Ralf Gust, Managing Director of the cluster network Hamburg Aviation. He points out that Hamburg and Rotterdam are both hubs of hydrogen aeronautics research, making this partnership a perfect fit for exploring hydrogen aircraft flight paths. This collaboration, he believes, could act as a catalyst for a future hydrogen-air route network and play a crucial role in achieving net-zero goals.
Echoing these sentiments, Miranda Janse, Director of the Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport Foundation, sees the collaboration as an important step toward decarbonizing the aviation sector and expanding hydrogen-powered aircraft. She believes the operational corridor for hydrogen is a major milestone in turning plans into action.
This venture marks a significant stride in the march toward clean energy aviation. As we explore the skies with greener wings, the collaboration between Hamburg and Rotterdam serves as a testament to the power of unity in addressing global challenges, setting the pace for the rest of the world to follow.
