The HIA alliance aims to position Britain at the forefront of hydrogen-powered aviation, it said. Members include easyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Ørsted, GKN Aerospace and Bristol Airport. 

The goal of the partnership is to ensure that the UK puts in place the infrastructure, policy, regulatory and safety frameworks needed to be ready for when the first hydrogen-powered aircraft takes to the skies.

“It would be unforgivable if actually the aircraft were available ready to fly and we could operate them, but actually, it got held back because some of these policies weren't really in place,” easyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said. 

In particular, the alliance has chosen to focus on hydrogen as a source of clean fuel for airplanes. 

The companies pointed out that 81 per cent of the British public believe hydrogen is the best option to decarbonise aviation, with 91 per cent supporting the UK government investing in hydrogen production and use in the...