ZeroAvia, Hydrogen Aviation Trailblazer, Reduces Workforce by Half
Hydrogen-electric aircraft developer ZeroAvia has confirmed sweeping layoffs affecting approximately half of its workforce due to funding constraints. This marks a significant setback for the alternative propulsion company.
The cuts, which occurred in multiple rounds since August 2025, have impacted ZeroAvia’s operations on both sides of the Atlantic. This includes its Propulsion Center of Excellence in Everett, Washington, and its UK facilities. As of late December 2024, the company employed 220 people in the UK alone.
CEO Val Miftakhov revealed to FlightGlobal in late January 2026 that the company has revised its development roadmap. The certification of its ZA600 electric propulsion system is now delayed until 2027. The company expects no flight-test activity for the next 12 to 18 months, leading to redundancies among the flight-test team.
“We are fortunate to be among the survivors,” Miftakhov said, highlighting the challenging environment for deep-tech sustainability ventures in heavily regulated, capital-intensive sectors like aviation. The company has been seeking approximately $150 million through a Series D funding round to continue its development programs.
Despite receiving Design Organisation Approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority in November 2025, ZeroAvia faces increasing pressure to demonstrate progress on its hydrogen-electric powertrain technology. The company’s two Dornier 228 test aircraft will be maintained for airworthiness but will remain grounded for at least the next year.
The restructuring raises questions about ZeroAvia’s capacity to meet its stated certification timelines and commercialization goals. This comes as the hydrogen aviation sector faces broader challenges with infrastructure, costs, and technical hurdles.
Source: FlightGlobal