Hamburg and Rotterdam planning hydrogen flight route in 2026

26 June 2023

Airports and aviation clusters in both cities to boost sustainable aviation

Plans are being laid to operate a first hydrogen flight between Hamburg and Rotterdam in 2026, a press release said Tuesday (June 20, 2023). This comes after Hamburg Airport, Rotterdam The Hague Airport and both urban aviation clusters signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" to advance climate-neutral airport operations and sustainable aviation. Research into a hydrogen flight route between both cities and suitable infrastructure is also underway.

Commercial hydrogen flights imaginable in future

"As one of the first collaborations of its kind in Europe, this exciting initiative demonstrates the intention of two European airports to move towards hydrogen-powered aircraft and to explore the steps required to make this idea a reality," said Ralf Gust, Managing Director of the Hamburg Aviation cluster network. Hamburg and Rotterdam are both centres of aviation research into hydrogen, he added. Stakeholders in business, science and the political sphere in Germany and the Netherlands are working on innovative solutions for aviation. Commercial hydrogen flights between Hamburg and Rotterdam are imaginable in future.

Push for more sustainable airport operations

The German-Dutch collaboration aims to develop smart and digital technologies for airports and aviation. "As Flughafen Hamburg GmbH, we have set ourselves the goal of cutting our fossil CO2 emissions to zero in 12 years via the 'Net Zero 2035' climate protection scheme and as the first major commercial airport in Germany," said Michael Eggenschwiler, CEO of Hamburg Airport. "This strategy foresees working with other partners to achieve 'green' flying as quickly as possible, including hydrogen-based technologies." Wilma van Dijk, CEO of Rotterdam The Hague Airport, also stressed Dutch commitment to sustainable airport operations and flights. Both airports plan to produce renewable energy independently and to set up suitable infrastructure.

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