Three-Way MOU Signed at Paris Air Show to Advance Zero-Emissions Dash 8 Regional Aircraft
(IN SHORT) Conscious Aerospace, KLM, and Transavia have signed a three-party MOU at the Paris Air Show to co-develop a liquid-hydrogen fuel cell propulsion retrofit for the Dash 8-300 regional aircraft. The partnership—which includes knowledge-sharing on cabin and cargo layouts, route viability studies, and cost modeling—was formalized before Dutch civil-aviation officials. Conscious Aerospace CEO Erik Geertsema emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder cooperation, while KLM’s Barry ter Voert highlighted the “start small, think big” ethos. Transavia’s Marloes van Laake underlined the role of collaboration in driving cleaner, quieter air travel. This agreement complements existing collaborations with EASA, De Havilland Canada, and supply-chain partners as the consortium moves toward in-service demonstrations by the decade’s end.
(PRESS RELEASE) AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands, 2025-Jun-16 — /Travel PR News/ — At the Paris Air Show, Conscious Aerospace (CA), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Transavia formalized their trilateral Memorandum of Understanding to advance fuel cell–based propulsion for the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 regional aircraft. Signed in the presence of Lieske Streefkerk-Arts, Deputy Director for Civil Aviation and Head of Sustainable Aviation at the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, this agreement underscores a shared commitment to decarbonizing regional air travel.
Under the MOU, the partners will collaborate on outfitting a Dash 8-300 with CA’s liquid-hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. Key activities include jointly refining seat and cargo configurations for optimal weight distribution and space utilization, assessing route-network requirements and market potential, and developing accurate cost projections for maintenance and operations. These insights will guide real-world demonstration flights and pave the way toward commercial deployment.
Erik Geertsema, CEO of Conscious Aerospace, commented, “Decarbonizing aviation demands close cooperation among government, manufacturers, regulators, and operators. We’re thrilled that KLM and Transavia are bringing invaluable operational expertise to our program. Alongside EASA, De Havilland Canada, and our supply-chain allies, we now have the full ecosystem in place to propel CA’s hydrogen-electric retrofit into its next development phase.”
Barry ter Voert, CXO & EVP Business Development at KLM, added, “KLM is dedicated to slashing aviation’s environmental footprint. While early hydrogen-fuel-cell aircraft may serve niche routes with fewer seats, this partnership signals our “start small, think big” approach. Together with Conscious Aerospace and Transavia, we’re catalyzing the journey toward a commercially viable, zero-emissions future.”
Marloes van Laake, COO of Transavia, said, “We envision a cleaner, quieter aviation industry built on innovation and collaboration. By supporting Conscious Aerospace’s pioneering work—both technically and financially—we’re helping chart the course for tomorrow’s sustainable aircraft.”
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SOURCE: KLM
