British Airways and a group of investors have invested $24.3 million in zero-emission aviation specialist ZeroAvia to accelerate the development of 50-plus-seater aircraft capable of running on zero-emissions hydrogen-electric power.
The group of investors includes Horizons Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Summa Equity, Shell Ventures and Systemiq. ZeroAvia says it could achieve commercialisation for its hydrogen-electric power as early as 2024, with flights of up to 500 miles (434nm) in up to 20-seater aircraft. With this new investment, ZeroAvia expects to have 50-plus seat commercial aircraft in operation in five years' time. The company has ambitions to power a 100-seat single-aisle aircraft by 2030. BA chief executive Sean Doyle states: "Innovative zero-emissions technology is advancing fast and we support the development of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source because we believe it has the potential to enable us to reach true zero emissions on short-haul routes by 2050." The new development comes just weeks after BA announced a partnership with ZeroAvia through parent company IAG's Hangar 51 accelerator programme to explore how hydrogen-powered aircraft can play a leading role in the future of sustainable flying. In September 2020, ZeroAvia achieved the world's first hydrogen-electric flight of a commercial-grade aircraft.

Delta Air Lines is terminating its policy not to sell reservations for middle seats, citing improving vaccination efforts in the USA that have increased the perception of the safety of air travel during the pandemic. One hundred percent of the seats on Delta aircraft will be available for purchase beginning on 1 May. The Atlanta-based airline in early February had extended through the end of April its ban on selling middle seats to give customers the additional "peace of mind" that comes with fewer passengers and the perceived lower risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. "The relationships we’ve built, together with the knowledge that nearly 65% of those who flew Delta in 2019 anticipate having at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by May 1, are what’s giving us the assurance to offer customers the ability to choose any seat on our aircraft," the carrier's chief executive Ed Bastian states.

IATA is recommending governments switch from PCR to rapid antigen tests to meet their Covid-19 travel requirements.
The association says a study it commissioned from OXERA and Edge Health shows that the best antigen tests are "broadly comparable" with the accuracy of their PCR equivalents. The BinaxNOW test, for example, misses just one positive case in a thousand travellers. They also produce a similar level of false negatives as PCR tests. Antigen tests are also around 100 times faster than PCR equivalents, and cost, on average, around 60% less, the research has found. This is important because IATA points out that the cost of testing can easily spiral above the price of the airfare itself. For example, the cost of 16 tests for a return journey for a family of four from the UK to the Canary Islands would be around £1,600 ($2,200), IATA notes. Its research estimates that on many key routes the cost of PCR testing would reduce passenger demand by an average of 65%, compared to just 30% if it was switched to antigen. IATA also highlights the problems that PCR testing capacity presents. In the UK, for example, capacity for PCR tests only covers around 25% of 2019 passenger levels, clearly demonstrating the block it would present on enabling a widescale return to flying. "Restarting international aviation will energise the economic recovery from Covid-19," states IATA's director general Alexandre de Juniac. "Along with vaccines, testing will play a critical role in giving governments the confidence to reopen their borders to travellers." He adds: "For governments, the top priority is accuracy. But travellers will also need tests to be convenient and affordable. The OXERA-Edge Health report tells us that the best-in-class antigen tests can tick all these boxes. It's important for governments to consider these findings as they make plans for a restart." IATA warns that testing requirements are often fragmented and difficult for travellers to navigate, and that many governments do not allow rapid testing. "Travellers need options. Including antigen testing among acceptable tests will certainly give strength to the recovery," states de Juniac. "And the EU's specification of acceptable antigen tests offers a good baseline for wider international harmonisation of acceptable standards. We now need to see governments implement these recommendations. The goal is to have a clear set of testing options that are medically effective, financially accessible, and practically available to all prospective travellers."