Brisbane, Australia / Bremen, Germany – 14 January 2026 – Stralis Aircraft (“Stralis”), a leading developer of high-performance hydrogen-electric propulsion systems and aircraft, today announced a second major commitment from EVIA AERO, strengthening their partnership to bring zero-emission regional aviation to Europe.
This new agreement represents the largest single-customer fleet of hydrogen-electric conversions to date, deepening EVIA AERO’s role as one of Stralis’ earliest and most significant European customers. EVIA AERO has committed to five Bonanza-A36-HE aircraft retrofits.
The EVIA AERO–Stralis partnership focuses on practical applications of hydrogen electric propulsion technology, expands the possibilities for island hopping in the Mediterranean and in the North and Baltic Seas, replaces fossil fuels, supports tourism and the regional economies of coastal and island destinations, and enables future routes to key leisure and business destinations such as Usedom and Helgoland in Germany or Sardinia in Italy. Stralis is using two Bonanza-A36 aircraft as hydrogen-electric testbeds, aligned with its technology roadmap. The Bonanza platform, suitable for regional routes, will greatly benefit EVIA AERO and similar airlines worldwide. Their 200-kW hydrogen- electric demonstrator will also mark the first piloted hydrogen-electric flight in the Southern Hemisphere from Brisbane Airport.
The EVIA AERO vision is to implement a point-to-point network with multiple daily connections between European economic regions, operated entirely with aircraft powered by locally generated green electricity and hydrogen. Bonanza-A36 aircraft deliveries under this latest agreement are targeted to begin in 2029, aligning with the EVIA AERO rollout of decentralised hydrogen and PV-based airport energy systems.
EVIA AERO was Stralis’ first European customer for their fleet of Beechcraft 1900D, a 19-seat regional hydrogen-electric aircraft. EVIA AERO plans to operate a sizable fleet of these aircraft on multiple regional routes across Europe, forming the backbone of its zero-emission network. This expanded partnership is a strong commercial signal that there is real, forward demand for hydrogen-electric aircraft in Europe’s regional markets.
“This partnership is particularly exciting because, beyond aircraft operations, EVIA AERO is building the energy and infrastructure ecosystem needed to make hydrogen-electric flight a reality,” said Bob Criner, CEO and Co-Founder of Stralis. “Similar to our program in Australia, their holistic approach aims to support a new regional aviation model where aircraft are powered by locally produced green energy, significantly reducing emissions and long-term operating costs.”
“Our fleet will be airborne with certified aircraft for our customers at the earliest possible time. To achieve this, the Bonanza A36 is the ideal product,” said Florian Kruse, founder and CEO of EVIA AERO, adding, “The first routes of our regional airline will be island services and medical flights. For this, the Stralis product is perfectly suitable. Additionally, we can train our future pilots on this aircraft at an early stage.”
Noteworthy Facts
Largest single-customer fleet of conversions: This agreement represents the largest fleet of hydrogen-electric conversions secured from a single customer to date.
Future-proofing island connectivity: The aircraft will enable broadened operations to the islands of northern Germany, where Avgas is being phased out and banned as a fuel, ensuring essential air links remain viable and sustainable.
Certified next-generation propulsion: The commitment includes aircraft powered by Stralis’ first certified HEPS-240 system (2 x HE-120), a hydrogen-electric propulsion system that combines high efficiency with low operating costs.
First piloted hydrogen-electric flight in the Southern Hemisphere: The Bonanza A36 200 kW hydrogen-electric demonstrator will also be the first piloted hydrogen-electric flight in the Southern Hemisphere, operated from Stralis’ base at Brisbane Airport in Australia.
The only emission from Stralis’ hydrogen-electric propulsion is water: Hydrogen-electric propulsion offers a genuinely transformative pathway, with the only emission from a hydrogen-electric fuel cell powertrain being water vapour.
Zero-emission regional air connectivity across Europe: EVIA AERO is an innovative aviation company dedicated to establishing a point-to-point network with multiple daily connections between key European business regions, operated by electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft fuelled with locally produced green energy.
End-to-end value chain: The EVIA AERO business model spans the full sustainable aviation value chain—from decentralised, energy-autonomous power generation (solar and hydrogen) at partner airports to energy storage and flight operations.
Enabling airports to utilise green mobility to reduce costs: Through joint ventures and strategic partnerships, EVIA AERO enables airports to actively promote green mobility while also achieving significant reductions in energy costs. This holistic approach directly supports the transformation of the aviation sector toward climate-neutral operations.
