Universal Hydrogen Co. on 7 February revealed that it has been granted a special airworthiness certificate by the FAA to proceed with the first flight of its hydrogen-powered regional aircraft. The company also released video footage of successful first taxi tests and unveiled operational tests of its modular hydrogen delivery system. 

It has also announced the signing of a strategic agreement with Air New Zealand to convert existing regional airplanes to fly on hydrogen and to supply hydrogen to the fleet. On completion of testing and certification, Universal Hydrogen’s conversion kits could be installed in Air New Zealand’s regional fleet.