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Leeham News • Bjorn Fehrm, Charlie Alcock, Scott Hamilton

EU state-aid approval clears way for Airbus ZEROe support amid France funding scrutiny

Airbus’ ZEROe hydrogen aircraft programme is moving forward after Airbus received clearance tied to the French government’s direct support, with EU processes finding “no objections” to the largesse. The update clarifies how state-backed decarbonisation funds are shaping Airbus’ clean-airliner roadmap and sequencing of ZEROe work.

2026-06-04T00:43:06.676322-07:00

airlinergs.com

ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Miftakhov steps down effective 26 May; Christine Ourmieres-Widener becomes interim CEO

2026-05-29T04:41:11.328282-07:00

AINonline

Aviation fuel crisis creates “tipping point” for SAF and hydrogen propulsion as fossil-replacement race escalates

2026-05-29T07:24:20.873942-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Interlune wins $6.9M NASA SBIR Phase III contract for lunar regolith payload to extract helium-3 and hydrogen

2026-05-04T08:03:40.645846-07:00

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Leeham News

EU state-aid approval clears way for Airbus ZEROe support amid France funding scrutiny Airbus’ ZEROe hydrogen aircraft programme is moving forward after Airbus received clearance tied to the French government’s direct support, with EU processes finding “no objections” to the largesse. The update clarifies how state-backed decarbonisation funds are shaping Airbus’ clean-airliner roadmap and sequencing of ZEROe work.

2026-06-04T00:43:06.676322-07:00

EU state-aid approval clears way for Airbus ZEROe support amid France funding scrutiny

AINonline

Aviation fuel crisis creates “tipping point” for SAF and hydrogen propulsion as fossil-replacement race escalates With jet-fuel volatility and pricing pressure raising the economics of alternative energy, companies working on sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen propulsion are positioning the current disruption as a commercialization inflection point. The opportunity centers on scaling supply and aligning technology progress with near-term cost realities.

2026-05-29T07:24:20.873942-07:00

Aviation fuel crisis creates “tipping point” for SAF and hydrogen propulsion as fossil-replacement race escalates

airlinergs.com

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ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Miftakhov steps down effective 26 May; Christine Ourmieres-Widener becomes interim CEO Hydrogen aviation propulsion startup ZeroAvia said founder and CEO Val Miftakhov has left the role effective 26 May 2026 to pursue new opportunities. Christine Ourmieres-Widener will continue in an operational leadership capacity as interim CEO. The change follows a turbulent period that included staff cuts in the US and UK.

2026-05-29T04:41:11.328282-07:00

ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Miftakhov steps down effective 26 May; Christine Ourmieres-Widener becomes interim CEO

Vertical Mag

Sustainable flight race accelerates: eVTOLs, hybrid-electric concepts, and the investment push behind greener aviation A surge of eVTOL and hybrid-electric development is drawing major investment as the industry tries to commercialize “green flight” beyond demos. The effort hinges on scaling certification progress, closing airspace and infrastructure gaps, and translating sustainability narratives into viable operating economics.

2026-05-18T05:39:47.756214-07:00

Sustainable flight race accelerates: eVTOLs, hybrid-electric concepts, and the investment push behind greener aviation

Vertical Mag

Unither Bioelectronics advances Project Proticity hydrogen fuel-cell flight demonstrator for R44 rotorcraft Unither Bioelectronics expanded the flight envelope of its Project Proticity hydrogen fuel-cell-powered Robinson R44 technology demonstrator, building on earlier rotary-wing integration work. The step signals continued progress from proof-of-concept toward operationally relevant performance limits for hydrogen-electric rotorcraft.

2026-05-15T03:35:28.996506-07:00

Unither Bioelectronics advances Project Proticity hydrogen fuel-cell flight demonstrator for R44 rotorcraft

AINonline

H2Fly targets hydrogen fuel-cell aviation with 2 kW/kg power-density threshold H2Fly, the hydrogen propulsion unit owned by Joby Aviation, says aviation competitiveness hinges on reaching at least 2 kW/kg in hydrogen fuel-cell systems. The company is pushing a new hydrogen powertrain iteration aimed at boosting power density beyond earlier designs.

2026-05-14T09:27:39.655287-07:00

H2Fly targets hydrogen fuel-cell aviation with 2 kW/kg power-density threshold

FlightGlobal

Rolls-Royce spotlights hydrogen ambition after Stennis ground tests on modified Pearl business-jet engine Rolls-Royce is touting combustion ground-test progress at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, using a modified Pearl business-jet engine to validate performance for future hydrogen pathways. The company framed the Stennis results as “polished” performance momentum while it continues positioning hydrogen as a credible low-emissions option for aviation propulsion.

2026-05-12T08:27:50.584480-07:00

Rolls-Royce spotlights hydrogen ambition after Stennis ground tests on modified Pearl business-jet engine

Vertical Mag

Unither Bioélectronique completes piloted hydrogen-electric helicopter circuit flight in Quebec Unither Bioélectronique says it has completed the world’s first piloted hydrogen-electric helicopter circuit flight in Quebec, marking a major step in validating hydrogen-electric propulsion for rotorcraft operations. The CAAM update frames the sortie as a proof point for sustainable aviation progress, moving beyond ground tests toward operational flight.

2026-05-07T21:42:55.615634-07:00

Unither Bioélectronique completes piloted hydrogen-electric helicopter circuit flight in Quebec

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Hydrogen News

EU state-aid approval clears way for Airbus ZEROe support amid France funding scrutiny

ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Miftakhov steps down effective 26 May; Christine Ourmieres-Widener becomes interim CEO

Aviation fuel crisis creates “tipping point” for SAF and hydrogen propulsion as fossil-replacement race escalates

Interlune wins $6.9M NASA SBIR Phase III contract for lunar regolith payload to extract helium-3 and hydrogen

News Timeline