Connect Airlines Firms Hydrogen Conversion Of 75 ATR 72s

US startup carrier Connect Airlines has announced a firm order with Universal Hydrogen for the conversion of 75 ATR 72-600 aircraft. The aircraft will be fitted with hydrogen powertrains and are expected to be delivered from 2025 onwards.The agreement, which also includes purchase rights for a further 25 conversions, follows a letter of intent that was announced by the two companies last year. Within a decade, the US regional airline, which is yet to begin operations, aims to have its entire fleet fueled by hydrogen.

Connect Airlines’ CEO, John Thomas, said,

“We are building Connect Airlines from the ground up as a smarter, more sustainable travel option for North American travelers. We have committed to being the world’s first true zero-emission airline and the only way to accomplish this in the near term is with hydrogen.”

Carbon-free aviation

Universal Hydrogen was founded in 2020 with ambitions to make carbon-free aviation a reality in the near future. It aims to achieve this by using the lightweight, carbon-free, affordable, and safe gas alternative to traditional jet fuels. According to the company, hydrogen costs are decreasing significantly and will reach parity with jet fuel in 2025.

Connect Airlines has yet to start flying, but is expected to do so later this year. Photo: Connect Airlines

In addition to aircraft conversions, Universal Hydrogen also offers fuel services to airports, enabling hydrogen to be handled using existing infrastructure. The hydrogen is placed into modular capsules, which are then transported over existing freight networks from the production sites to airports around the world.

This eliminates the need for any costly and lengthy upgrades to airport infrastructure and means that almost any airport in the world can quickly and easily become hydrogen-ready.

Reactions to the agreement

Founder and CEO of Universal Hydrogen, Peal Eremenko, stated,

“This order places Connect firmly in the vanguard of the march to get aviation on a path to meeting Paris Agreement emissions targets.”

Over at Connect Airlines, CEO John Thomas added,

“We see the partnership with Universal Hydrogen as the fastest path to zero-emission operation because they offer both an affordable retrofit solution for the existing airplane fleet, as well as a pragmatic approach to delivering hydrogen to any airport in our route network."

The future of smarter, greener travel

Connect Airlines, owned by Waltzing Matilda Aviation, brands itself as the future of smarter, greener travel. While an exact date for the start of operations is yet to be announced, flights are expected to begin this year.

The airline plans to operate regional routes connecting Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport with a number of US cities, including Chicago and Philadelphia. It then plans to launch US domestic routes.

Flights will initially be operated by Dash 8-Q400 aircraft and later by the ATR 72-600. The ambitious carrier expects to add 800 new aircraft to its fleet over the coming decade.