Air Cahana Orders 250 Hydrogen-Electric Engines for Sustainable Flights
Key Ideas
- Air Cahana, a new Californian airline, has ordered 250 ZA2000 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia to pioneer sustainable flights.
- The partnership aims to deploy clean aircraft operations in major metropolitan areas in the eastern United States.
- The ZA2000 powerplant, with a power output of 2-5 megawatts and a range of 500 nautical miles, is set to be tested on a Dash 8-400, targeting certification by 2027.
At the Paris Air Show, Air Cahana, a recently established airline based in Los Angeles, has made a significant commitment to sustainability by ordering 250 ZA2000 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia. The airline, founded in 2019, plans to offer 'sustainable flights' right from the beginning of its commercial operations. By partnering with ZeroAvia, Air Cahana aims to adopt low-emission propulsion technologies, starting with turboprops equipped with ZeroAvia's zero-emission propulsion systems.
Both companies are working together to explore opportunities for introducing more environmentally friendly aircraft operations in major cities on the East Coast of the United States. The ZA2000 powerplant, expected to have a power output of 2 to 5 megawatts and a range of approximately 500 nautical miles, will undergo testing on a Dash 8-400 aircraft. This initiative, supported by Alaska Airlines, is a step towards achieving certification for the ZA2000 powerplant by 2027.
James Peck, Chief Customer Officer of ZeroAvia, praised Air Cahana for its forward-thinking approach in embracing hydrogen-electric engines, highlighting the significant operational savings and environmental benefits these engines offer. Tony Thompson, CEO of Air Cahana, emphasized the airline's commitment to reducing emissions and operating costs through the adoption of this groundbreaking technology, marking a significant milestone in the aviation industry's transition to hydrogen power.