Air travel

Leading hydrogen aircraft startup is suddenly grounded

Universal Hydrogen had raised $100 million from investors to build hydrogen-fuel-cell aircraft. Now it’s liquidating its business.

By Maria Gallucci . 2 July 2024

A white-and-blue airplane with twin propellers takes off from an airport landing strip. — Universal Hydrogen's prototype aircraft takes flight in 2023. (Universal Hydrogen)

Air travel

United’s $100M fund to invest in startups making sustainable jet fuel

United Airlines is launching an investment vehicle to support proven producers and emerging developers of sustainable aviation fuel in a bid to curb emissions.

By Maria Gallucci . 21 February 2023
Podcast

Can used cooking oil really decarbonize the aviation industry?

The greasy truth behind sustainable aviation fuels.

Play

By Stephen Lacey, Maria Gallucci . 22 min . 1 February 2023
Air travel

A giant solar microgrid is coming to New York City’s JFK airport

Some 13,000 solar panels will cover a new terminal being built at JFK, giving the airport a clean power supply that can keep operations running even in a blackout.

By Maria Gallucci . 26 January 2023
Air travel

Hydrogen-powered aviation reaches milestone with ZeroAvia's flight

The California startup's 19-seat hydrogen-electric prototype plane successfully completed a short test flight as efforts to curb air-travel emissions scale up.

By Maria Gallucci . 20 January 2023
Air travel

The smelly, greasy truth about how sustainable aviation fuel is made

Join our reporter as she tags along with a truck driver dumpster-diving for used cooking oil — all in the name of curbing aircraft emissions.

By Maria Gallucci . 12 January 2023
Air travel

United plans to electrify airport operations with sodium-ion batteries

United Airlines is making a strategic equity investment in sodium-ion battery maker Natron Energy as the aviation industry works to curb emissions.

By Maria Gallucci . 30 November 2022
Air travel

Major airlines are teaming up to tackle planet-warming plane contrails

American, Southwest and United are joining with Airbus, Boeing, RMI and researchers in an effort to mitigate heat-trapping condensation trails.

By Maria Gallucci . 21 November 2022
Air travel

Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice — and 'carbon-free' flights?

Icelandair plans to use only hydrogen- and battery-powered planes for in-country routes by the end of this decade.

By Maria Gallucci . 1 November 2022
Air travel

193 countries pledge to slash air-travel emissions by 2050

It's the first international agreement of its kind for the hard-to-decarbonize aviation industry, but critics say the nonbinding target lacks teeth.

By Maria Gallucci . 10 October 2022
Air travel

CO2-to-vodka startup Air Company aims higher with aviation fuel

The company uses captured carbon dioxide to make sustainable aviation fuel at its reactor in New York City. JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic have pledged huge orders.

By Maria Gallucci . 22 September 2022