Skytrans in race to achieve net zero carbon emissions

A Queensland airline, co-owned by one of the state’s biggest NRL legends, could become the first in the world to achieve net zero carbon emissions.

Former NRL star Johnathan Thurston is co-owner of north Queensland airline Skytrans. Picture; Morgan Sette

A tiny airline owned by a former NRL star could be the world’s first to achieve carbon neutrality thanks to the planned introduction of hydrogen electric-powered aircraft to its fleet.

Skytrans, co-owned by Johnathan Thurston, has committed to operating a commercial flight from Brisbane to Gladstone with a 15-seat Stralis B1900D-HE aircraft from 2026.

Providing all goes to plan, the only emissions during the one-hour, 15-minute flight will be water vapour.

The milestone flights are the work of the newly formed Hydrogen Flight Alliance, made up of Skytrans, Stralis, Brisbane and Gladstone Airports, universities, gas company BOC Pacific and H2 Energy.

In the lead-up to the first passenger flights, Stralis will test its technology in six-seat hydrogen electric-powered Beechcraft Bonanza planes from early next year, providing real-life experience in the operation and refuelling of hydrogen aircraft.

Key to the success of the project was significant green hydrogen developments under way in Brisbane and Gladstone.

Skytrans has committed to operating a commercial flight from Brisbane to Gladstone with a 15-seat Stralis B1900D-HE aircraft from 2026.

Brisbane Airport executive general manager of governance and sustainability Raechel Paris said the gateway supported the ambition of the Hydrogen Flight Alliance to decarbonise aviation.

“With Queensland home to the largest number of regional flights in Australia, Brisbane is the perfect testing ground for zero-emissions aircraft,” Ms Paris said.

Airlines worldwide have committed to an ambitious net zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

It was hoped the Skytrans flights would pave the way for more widespread operations of hydrogen-electric aircraft during the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics in Queensland.

With the Games striving to be a climate-positive event, the HFA was working to fly athletes around the state on emissions-free planes.

The biggest impediments to the plan concerned the availability of green hydrogen, the cost and airport supply infrastructure.

Stralis Aircraft chief executive Bob Criner said the alliance would help address those issues and answer airline customers’ concerns about access to affordable green hydrogen.

“This is not a problem we can solve on our own, it requires industry collaboration,” Mr Criner said.

Skytrans chief executive Alan Mile with a Dash 8. Picture: Brendan Radke

Currently the Cairns-based Skytrans operated a fleet of seven Dash-8 aircraft on routes to Cape York and Torres Strait Island communities.

Co-owned by Thurston and pilot Peter Collings, the airline was led by Alan Milne, a former Qantas manager.

He said they were proud to be part of an Australian collaboration pioneering hydrogen propulsion technology for commercial aircraft.

“We want to play a leading role in showing that this technology can work in aviation,” Mr Milne said.

BOC Pacific director of strategy and clean energy Vesna Olles said hydrogen would play an increasingly important role in the transition to greener energy production and consumption.

“It is an ideal way to store energy generated from renewable sources, and when generated from regenerative sources, it creates zero emissions,” Ms Olles said.

The Hydrogen Flight Alliance will be launched by Mr Thurston at Brisbane Airport on Thursday.