A French startup called Beyond Aero is collaborating with Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur (ACA) to prepare for the arrival of a business hydrogen aircraft at three coastal airports in the south of France. The aircraft, named the One, is a small, six- to eight-seat plane powered by six high-capacity fuel cells. These fuel cells use gaseous hydrogen stored at extremely high pressure—700 bars—which is then converted into electricity to power the plane. The aircraft is expected to have a range of 800 nautical miles (about 1,500 kilometers), enabling non-stop flights from Nice to Paris or London without emitting carbon dioxide during flight. The partnership, announced in Nice on September 3, 2026, involves studying the necessary hydrogen infrastructure at Cannes-Mandelieu, Nice, and Saint-Tropez airports. While no investment decisions have been finalized, the project is evaluating two possible refueling methods—fixed stations or mobile vehicles—and plans to use compressed hydrogen produced near the airports. Cannes-Mandelieu has been identified as the most suitable location for initial implementation. Franck Goldnadel, president of the ACA board of directors, noted that Nice has already hosted a flight with an electric aircraft, piloted by Prince Albert of Monaco, showing the region’s interest in sustainable aviation. Beyond Aero completed its preliminary design review in March 2026 and aims to secure EASA certification (the European standard for large commercial aircraft) for its plane. However, the regulatory framework for hydrogen-powered aircraft is still under development, and no official standards exist yet. The company has raised $44 million and claims to have $914 million in letters of intent for 108 aircraft, indicating strong interest from potential buyers. However, the broader hydrogen aviation sector faces challenges. The sector has seen setbacks, including Universal Hydrogen, which filed for bankruptcy in June 2024 after spending $100 million. Airbus has delayed its ZEROe program, which aims to develop commercial hydrogen aircraft, by five to ten years, pushing the expected arrival of such planes to 2040–2045. Another competitor, ZeroAvia, has postponed the certification of its hydrogen power system until 2029 and cut its workforce by half. Additionally, green hydrogen, the clean form of hydrogen produced using renewable energy, still costs between 5 and 9 euros per kilogram in 2026, which is significantly more expensive than traditional jet fuel (kerosene). These factors highlight the challenges of scaling hydrogen aviation technology. Despite these obstacles, Beyond Aero is targeting a niche market: business aviation. In this sector, customers are often willing to pay a premium for innovation, sustainability, and exclusivity. The company believes that the demand for hydrogen aircraft in this space is sufficient to justify its development and investment, even as the broader industry faces delays and financial hurdles.