Kemble, UK & Everett, WA, USA – 13 May 2025 – In a major breakthrough for sustainable aviation, ZeroAvia has announced an agreement with RVL Aviation to operate Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft retrofitted with its hydrogen-electric ZA600 powertrain—marking what could be the world’s first hydrogen-electric commercial flight operations.
The partnership signals a significant leap forward for regional aviation within the British Isles. Once certification is secured for the ZA600 engine, airframe integration and operational routes, and all retrofit and pilot training procedures are complete, flights are expected to commence. This initiative could redefine regional air connectivity while virtually eliminating climate impact.
Extensive analysis by both RVL and ZeroAvia confirms that the ZA600-powered Cessna Caravan meets current performance requirements, with the added benefit of zero emissions. With nearly 1,000 aircraft of this type currently flying cargo routes globally, the scalability potential of the ZA600 technology is vast.
The focus of the agreement is on the Cessna Caravan 208B, and RVL will work in tandem with zero-emission aircraft leasing specialist MONTE. The aim is to evaluate the success of the initial operations and potentially expand across RVL’s broader network and into other small turboprop applications, subject to technical feasibility.
RVL Aviation, a trusted name in the sector with over 40 years of operational experience, is headquartered at East Midlands Airport. The company operates from its own hangar and maintenance base, delivering specialist aviation services including airborne survey, aerial surveillance, dispersant services and bespoke charter flights. Its client base spans both public and private sectors, aligning closely with national economic and environmental priorities.
ZeroAvia’s innovative ZA600 engine relies on hydrogen fuel cells to produce electricity, which in turn powers electric motors to drive the aircraft’s propellers. Water is the only emission. Independent studies indicate that the switch to hydrogen-electric propulsion can reduce climate impact by as much as 90%. In addition to environmental gains, operators could benefit from lower maintenance needs and significantly reduced fuel costs as the technology scales.
This collaboration between RVL Aviation and ZeroAvia paves the way for a cleaner future in aviation—one where performance and sustainability are no longer at odds.
“Today is a proud day for all of our team in our pursuit of a clean future of flight as we now have a confirmed launch operator with concrete plans to fly aircraft powered by the ZA600 engine. We have the engine design; we have the integration plans for the launch airframe; we have the solutions to provide the hydrogen fuel; and we have the customers wanting to operate the first routes. We now need to double our attention on the certification testing that will get this route flying and then ramp up production for our other confirmed ZA600 customers.”
SOURCE AND IMAGES: ZeroAvia
