United Plans Hydrogen-Powered Regional Aircraft

United and ZeroAvia are moving to bring hydrogen-powered regional aircraft into commercial service.

On November 10, 2025 United Airlines (IATA: UA, ICAO: UAL) confirmed a partnership with ZeroAvia to develop hydrogen-electric propulsion for regional flights, targeting entry into commercial service by 2028. The project centers on retrofitting Bombardier CRJ-550 regional jets with ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 propulsion units.

Initial work will begin with ground testing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), followed by flight test campaigns. The programme is supported by a multi-million-dollar investment in hydrogen infrastructure to support fueling and test operations at the airport and partner sites.

United’s CEO described the agreement as a major step in sustainable aviation innovation and said it aligns with the carrier’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

What the hydrogen-powered regional aircraft plan covers

The retrofit approach focuses on converting existing CRJ-550 airframes, reducing the need for new production while validating ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 in service-like conditions. Ground tests at ORD will validate integration, safety systems, and hydrogen handling before any powered flight trials.

Key facts: announced November 10, 2025 — retrofit CRJ-550s with ZA2000 engines to create hydrogen-powered regional aircraft for commercial service by 2028.
Test site: Chicago O’Hare (ORD) for initial ground testing, then flight test phases.
Operator: United Airlines (UA / UAL); partner: ZeroAvia (engine developer).
Strategic aim: support United’s net-zero by 2050 commitment and scale hydrogen infrastructure.

If the programme meets its milestones, this retrofit pathway could prove a quicker route to lower-emission regional flying than waiting for entirely new airframes — though certification, infrastructure build-out, and operational integration remain significant hurdles over the next few years.