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French startup Beyond Aero is targeting the ultra-rich as it lines up plans to commercially launch a six-seat hydrogen-powered jet by 2030, Bloomberg reports. The company has already secured letters of intent from prospective individual buyers for 19 hydrogen jets, along with commitments from several airlines.
Why the wealthy? Only 1% of the population is responsible for 50% of global aviation emissions, with private jets being the most carbon-intensive. Some private jets emit two tons of CO2 per hour, making them five times more polluting per passenger than commercial flights and 50 times worse than trains. Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Elon Musk have recently come under fire for their use of heavy-emitting private jets. Swiss nonprofit climate protection organization Myclimate identified rapper Travis Scott as the leading carbon emitter from private jet travel in 2023, with emissions totaling over 6 mn kgs.
Beyond Aero is not alone: Switzerland-based Sirius Aviation is also developing hydrogen-powered jets, already receiving prepayments for three jets costing mns each, according to Bloomberg. The company is planning its first demonstration flight next year, featuring a two-seater jet with a small kitchen and toilet, capable of vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter, yet flying like an airplane.
The type of hydrogen matters: The environmental impact of the hydrogen used depends on how it is produced. Jets powered by gray hydrogen, for example, are not emission-free, Greenpeace Europe climate and transportation specialist Thomas Gelin told Bloomberg. To truly minimize the environmental impact, the industry is shifting towards green hydrogen, which currently represents only 1% of global output but is expected to dominate the sector by 2050.
