Between aircraft on the tarmac and well-attended halls, a clear picture emerged: the industry is not looking for the one perfect solution, but for a viable compromise between efficiency, performance, and scalability. The planning horizon of this industry is comparatively long, which is why short-term sentiments are less of a focus. Hydrogen is becoming increasingly relevant, because the energy demand in aviation is enormous, particularly during take-off and on longer routes. This is precisely where purely battery-electric solutions quickly reach physical limits.
Hydrogen as a practical middle ground Several interlocutors therefore described hydrogen as a “practical middle ground.” Irwin Kerboriou of Beyond Aero, a French company that intends to build a hydrogen aircraft, put it very aptly: hydrogen enables “a good compromise between efficiency and performance.”
At the trade fair, the discussion was no longer only about future scenarios; concrete systems could be seen, ranging from fuel cell solutions to specialized components and even first test aircraft. Companies such as Green GT, EKPO, and Kasaero are driving development forward.
Small aircraft in test operation The company Kasaero, which specializes in engineering services for aircraft, has developed a hydrogen-powered ultralight aircraft whose electric variant is already in flight operation, reports project manager Erick Vianello. The company is currently looking for additional investors for this project.
Research institutions and student teams are meanwhile testing prototypes. Prof. Johannes Markmiller, Professor of Aircraft Engineering at TU Dresden, explained in an interview that his twin-engine Diamond DA62 MPP aircraft is now entering test operation with a hydrogen propulsion system. This is a special version of the aircraft type that, according to media reports, the German Federal Chancellor flies privately.
Commercial applications still take time The projects show that the technology is increasingly gaining traction in practice.
Despite the positive momentum, realism was also tangible. Infrastructure, certification, safety requirements, and the availability of green hydrogen remain major challenges. In particular, larger, commercial applications will still require years, if not decades. The innovation pressure on aviation from the Far East, and especially from China, is already being felt, and this is accelerating projects in the here and now, so that they can hold their own in competition later.
Reducing dependencies Another topic in many conversations was energy sovereignty. Hydrogen is no longer viewed solely as a climate protection solution, but also as a strategic factor. Frédérich Thébault of the company GreenGT, which presented fuel cell systems for the aviation industry at the trade fair, summed it up as follows: hydrogen offers “an energy-politically sovereign alternative to fossil fuels.” Particularly in a geopolitically uncertain environment, this is an argument that is gaining importance.
The attitude of a relevant portion of the industry is remarkable: the willingness to pursue new paths is clearly noticeable. Hydrogen in aviation is no longer a distant future topic, but an ecosystem that is beginning to take shape. 
Hyfindr GmbH
