ACIA Aero Leasing to provide hydrogen-converted planes through new agreement with Universal Hydrogen

ACIA Aero Leasing (ACIA) has signed a new letter of intent with Universal Hydrogen to convert up to 30 regional aircraft to hydrogen using innovative conversion kits.

An initial 10 firm orders are expected for Universal Hydrogen’s ATR 72 conversion kits with additional purchase rights for 20 more kits expected of various turboprop types.

ACIA allow for the leasing of regional aircraft and has a focus on long-term sustainability in the aviation sector by using hydrogen to decarbonise its fleet of turboprop aircraft.

As part of the agreement, the two companies will work together on collaboratively marketing hydrogen fuel services to ACIA’s leasing customers.

Paul Eremenko, co-founder and CEO of Universal Hydrogen, said, “ACIA’s diverse customer base allows us to have a major decarbonisation impact on regional aviation globally.

“ACIA’s passenger and cargo aircraft leasing customers will be able to move to true zero emissions operations as early as the mid 2020s, putting them in the vanguard of clean aviation.”

Mick Mooney, CEO of ACIA Aero Leasing, said, “Our lessees are actively looking for ways to decrease overall costs and reduce their carbon footprint.

“Decarbonising our fleet encourages customers and competitors to follow our lead in advancing the development of carbon-free solutions.

“Collaborating with Universal Hydrogen will have a lasting impact on the environment encouraging our customers and the communities they touch, to increase efforts towards environmental sustainability.”