KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced a partnership with ZeroAvia to conduct a demonstration flight aimed at testing the use of liquid hydrogen as a fuel source for large regional turboprop aircraft. The flight, scheduled for 2026, will be powered by ZeroAvia's ZA2000 hydrogen-electric engines, which utilize hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity for the plane's propellers. Maarten Koopmans, managing director of KLM subsidiary Cityhopper, expressed KLM's commitment to leading the aviation industry towards a more sustainable future through innovation. KLM is actively seeking an 'optimal airport pair' to carry out the initial A-B flight demonstration and is working on obtaining the necessary regulatory permits and ensuring a supply of liquid hydrogen fuel. The collaboration highlights ZeroAvia's prominent role in developing hydrogen propulsion systems for aircraft and showcases growing support from major industry players such as American Airlines and Airbus. Sergey Kiselev, ZeroAvia's chief business officer, emphasized the increasing seriousness with which the world's largest airlines are exploring hydrogen-electric as a potential solution for sustainable aviation. The development of hydrogen-electric engines, which only emit water vapor, aligns with KLM's sustainability strategy, aiming to have 64% of its fleet consist of new-generation aircraft by 2028, in line with the IATA net zero target of 2050. This collaboration follows a report by the International Council on Clean Transport advocating for the accelerated development of net-zero aircraft, including hydrogen, electric, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) powered planes, further emphasizing the industry's shift towards sustainable aviation solutions.