The Managerial Challenge for Airlines in Hydrogen Aviation: Building Organisational Capabilities Before LH2 Aircraft Adoption

The transition towards hydrogen aviation represents not only a technological challenge, but also a long-term organisational transformation for airlines. Although commercial liquid hydrogen (LH₂) aircraft are unlikely to enter airline fleets at scale in the near term, the capabilities required to integrate them into existing operations cannot be developed overnight. This article examines why airlines should begin preparing for LH₂ aircraft adoption well before their entry into service, considering the implications for fleet and network planning, operational processes, organisational structures and coordination with airports and the wider hydrogen ecosystem. Particular attention is given to low-cost and high-aircraft-utilisation airlines, where the introduction of a fundamentally different aircraft technology could challenge established advantages such as fleet commonality, operational simplicity and rapid turnarounds. The article argues that early capability-building, cross-functional learning and strategic flexibility will be essential for managing uncertainty and enabling future LH₂ aircraft adoption. Hydrogen aviation should therefore be approached as a transition-management challenge whose organisational preparation begins well before the aircraft themselves enter commercial operation.