UK Pledges £100M to Revolutionise Greener Air Travel at Farnborough Airshow
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has unveiled a hefty investment of over £100 million to propel the UK aerospace sector into a greener future. Announced at the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, the funding aims to advance cutting-edge tech to slash aviation emissions and boost the economy.
Aerospace Industry: A £38 Billion Powerhouse
The UK aerospace sector contributed a staggering £38 billion to the economy in 2023, according to industry body ADS.
Now, nearly £103 million in government-industry funding, operated through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, is set to back five pioneering aerospace R&D projects. Leading names like GKN Aerospace, Queens University, Rolls-Royce, Short Brothers, and ZeroAvia are at the helm.
Green Tech and High-Skilled Jobs at the Forefront
Projects will focus on game-changing technologies such as zero-emission hydrogen planes, next-gen propulsion systems, and advanced turbine tech. This push will not only curb carbon emissions but will also protect thousands of skilled aerospace jobs across the UK.
Jonathan Reynolds, Business and Trade Secretary, said: “Our world-class aerospace sector added almost £40 billion to the economy last year. By backing it to pioneer cutting-edge new technologies, we’re delivering economic growth and supporting high-skilled jobs in every part of the UK.”
“It’s fitting that I’m launching this new support here at Farnborough Airshow, showcasing British innovation on the global stage and reinforcing our commitment to innovation and manufacturing at the heart of our Industrial Strategy.”
Industry Leaders Back Boost in Sustainable Aviation
Gary Elliott, CEO of Aerospace Technology Institute, said: “The ATI Programme continues to invest in world-class research that accelerates technology development, grows manufacturing, and strengthens the supply chain, ensuring aerospace keeps delivering economic returns to the UK.”
“Today’s projects target advanced tech that brings us closer to sustainable aviation, from lightweight materials to new fuel systems. This is a vital step forward for our Industrial Strategy.”
Alan Newby, Rolls-Royce Director of Research and Technology, said: “The HOTLINE project and others supported by ATI will improve cost competitiveness and product performance of current and future engines, helping meet Net Zero targets and boost UK growth opportunities.”
Inside the £103 Million Aerospace Tech Investment
- ATI Programme: A government-industry initiative funding research and tech development to keep the UK ahead in civil aerospace and push net zero aviation.
- Since 2013: Government and industry co-invested around £3.6 billion across multiple projects, involving 438 partners and 290 SMEs nationwide.
- HOTLINE Project: Led by Rolls-Royce with Cranfield University & University of Birmingham, developing turbines to cut costs and improve efficiency (£20.5m total).
- AFCAD: ZeroAvia leads efforts to commercialise high temperature fuel cell tech for zero-emission hydrogen flight, including rotorcraft and eVTOL (£17.5m).
- Scenic Composites: Queens University Belfast develops testing and manufacturing tech for aerospace composites, building Belfast’s aerospace cluster (£10.9m).
- IVI Project: Short Brothers aim to slash material use and boost fuel efficiency, supporting sustainable propulsion (£10m total; £5.8m government grant).
- H2FlyGHT: Led by GKN Aerospace, this project develops liquid hydrogen fuel systems and a 2 MW cryogenic electric propulsion system for zero-emission planes (£44m).
