Rotterdam, 9 April 2026 — Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport (RHIA) successfully hosted the second edition of its Morning Take‑Off series, an online breakfast session designed to inspire and activate the aviation innovation community. This edition featured keynote speaker Irwin Kerboriou, Lead H2 Airport Operations Manager at Beyond Aero, who shared her expertise on the rapidly evolving landscape of hydrogen‑electric aviation.
Over the course of 60 minutes, participants explored the opportunities and challenges of integrating hydrogen into future airport operations, based on the design of the Beyond Aero One aircraft. We then also connected the discussion to RHIA’s broader innovation pathways: smart energy systems, future energy supply (including SAF and battery‑electric flight), and environmental and societal impact.
Hydrogen innovation takes center stage
Irwin’s keynote highlighted that, following the design path chosen on their project to develop a new aircraft, the momentum behind hydrogen‑electric aviation and the strategic considerations airports must address the challenge to prepare for zero‑emission aircraft. Key insights included:
- Significant investment requirements: Developing new aircraft platforms demands big investments, and the investment scale with the required certification path.
- Realistic timelines: New hydrogen or hybrid‑electric aircraft are unlikely to enter service before 2030, due to certification processes.
- No single winning propulsion system yet: Gaseous hydrogen, liquid hydrogen, battery‑electric, and hybrid configurations could each serve different markets and mission profiles in time.
- GH₂ as a strategic stepping stone: Gaseous hydrogen may play a role in scaling early operations and investment strategies before transitioning to liquid hydrogen.
- The need for alignment: Airports and OEMs must better understand each other’s development timelines to ensure infrastructure and aircraft readiness evolve in sync.
Irwin emphasized that hydrogen aviation is advancing quickly, but its success depends on coordinated action across the entire ecosystem.
A morning of dialogue and collaboration
The session opened with an interactive digital tune‑in, inviting participants to reflect on their own contributions to airport innovation. RHIA director Victor Rijkaart welcomed attendees and reaffirmed RHIA’s mission to serve as a living lab for sustainable aviation technologies, making the most of the unique proposition of Rotterdam The Hague Airport for innovation.
Following the keynote, a moderated Q&A allowed participants to engage directly with Irwin on topics such as safety, infrastructure, certification, and the interplay between hydrogen and other sustainable aviation pathways.
During the Q&A, participants raised several forward‑looking questions that underscored the complexity of hydrogen integration at airports:
Underestimated environmental and safety aspects in EIAs and public consultations
Participants asked which hydrogen‑related risks and environmental impacts are currently underrepresented in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). Irwin noted that topics such as ground‑handling safety, hydrogen storage and distribution at airports often receive less attention than they deserve. She emphasized the need for more transparent communication and shared learning across airports, regulators, and OEMs.
The advantage of lower peak noise levels during take‑off, cruise and landing
A question was raised about the significant noise‑reduction potential of hydrogen‑electric aircraft. This aligns directly with RHIA’s pathway on environmental and societal impact, where quieter operations are a key priority.
Safety considerations around tank placement and propeller separation
One participant expressed surprise at the placement of a rear‑fuselage hydrogen tank in proximity to the propeller disk, raising concerns about catastrophic failure in the event of blade separation. Irwin explained that OEMs apply strict certification standards.
These questions highlighted the importance of open dialogue and cross‑disciplinary collaboration as hydrogen aviation moves closer to operational reality.
Call to Action
RHIA closed the session with a clear invitation to the community:
- Participate in pilots, use cases, and living labs.
- Connect through matchmaking and knowledge exchange.
- Contribute by sharing innovations as speakers or case studies.
We extend our sincere thanks to all participants—and especially to our keynote speaker Irwin—for contributing to this inspiring session. If you believe you have a topic that would enrich a future RHIA Morning Take‑Off or potential collaboration ideas, we warmly invite you to let us know.
