EasyJet has welcomed the development of a conceptual liquid hydrogen-powered midsize aircraft by the UK's government-backed FlyZero project, and says it sees aircraft powered in this way as "playing an important role in its decarbonisation pathway". The UK's Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) revealed on 6 December that a team of researchers involved in the FlyZero programme had developed a concept green hydrogen-powered aircraft with a range of 5,250nm (9,723km) which they say would be capable of carrying up to 279 passengers and could be operational from the mid-2030's. Further details about the concept are expected to be announced early next year. "FlyZero's concept aircraft demonstrates the huge potential of green liquid hydrogen for aviation, including larger-gauge aircraft, and I'm very excited to see where we go from here," states EasyJet director of flight operations David Morgan, who sits of ATI's advisory board. "EasyJet is closely involved in the work of the Aerospace Technology Institute and its FlyZero project, and we look forward to continuous collaboration to make zero-carbon emission flights a reality as soon as possible." The UK-based low-cost carrier says it has also seconded one of its pilots, Debbie Thomas, to the FlyZero project. EasyJet is among 100 aerospace and aviation companies that have seconded employees to help with the project. Other participants include Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, GE Aviation and Spirit AeroSystems. FlyZero project director Chris Gear advised that while "the concepts created by FlyZero are intended as a means to investigate the technologies required to realise zero-carbon emission flight", the project's findings are "intended to help the UK aerospace sector and its supply chain capitalise on the opportunities a new generation of aircraft will bring". Airbus last year unveiled three conceptual aircraft designs of its own that would use hydrogen as the main power source. The European manufacturer expects its 'ZEROe' aircraft concepts to enter service within 15 years. Its US rival Boeing, however, has expressed doubts that hydrogen-powered aircraft will be viable in the near future, and has said that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will play a key role in the development of its next generation of single-aisle aircraft. FlyZero's Gear says: "It's true that there are big challenges requiring significant investment before liquid hydrogen-powered flight of this scale becomes a reality. However, overcoming these brings real opportunities for securing jobs and growth."

Australia’s Qantas today relaunched flights to Delhi from Sydney, marking its first commercial flight to India in almost a decade. Qantas is operating three weekly return flights from Sydney to Delhi, which will be increased in January, as well as four weekly return flights from Melbourne starting from 22 December. The carrier says this is the first time it has operated a commercial service to India since the end of its Brisbane-Mumbai service in 2012, and is also its first regular passenger flight from Australia to Delhi since 1974. Qantas domestic and international chief executive Andrew David says that demand for flights between Australia and India has "surpassed the airline’s expectations". The airline says that all passengers on its international flights are required to be fully vaccinated, unless they are under 12 years of age or are 12-17 year olds travelling to Australia with their family or guardian or have an exemption. Over the past 12 months, Qantas says it operated more than 60 repatriation flights on behalf of the federal government flights to bring Australians home from India.

UK aviation industry bodies have reacted with alarm to the government's decision to bring back mandatory pre-departure Covid-19 testing requirements from 7 December. The UK Department for Transport announced on 4 December that from 04:00 on 7 December, anyone aged 12 and above wishing to travel to the UK must show proof of a negative PCR or lateral-flow test result taken no earlier than 48h prior to departure. The government also added Nigeria to its travel red list from 04:00 on 6 December. The measures are "temporary" and are being implemented in response to Covid-19's new Omicron variant, says the government. They will be reviewed on 20 December. UK Airport Operators Association (AOA) chief executive Karen Dee has described the latest travel restrictions as "a devastating blow" for aviation and tourism. "Pre-departure tests act as a major deterrent to travel and most of the limited remaining demand following the reintroduction of self-isolation will now fall away, just as airports were hoping for a small uplift over the Christmas holiday," states Dee. "Travel and aviation are the only sectors hit with any operating restrictions in response to the Omicron variant." She adds that the UK and devolved governments "should have done the right thing" and "announced support for our businesses and our staff to get through another period of shutdown". British Travel Association (BTA) chief executive Clive Wratton says the introduction of pre-departure testing "with little warning" is a "hammer blow" to the industry. Wratton is calling for state support to be provided to the sector, and says that "above all, the government must talk to the industry and give us an exit plan that ensures the survival of our sector". The UK is among a number of countries to have reintroduced travel restrictions in response to the Omicron variant. The US government announced on 2 December that it was tightening pre-departure Covid-19 testing timelines for inbound international travellers, regardless of nationality. The timeframe is being reduced to 24h prior to departure, whereas previously incoming vaccinated non-US citizens had to show proof of a negative result from a test result taken three days before departure.