Destinus is a European aerospace technology company developing hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft designed to drastically reduce intercontinental travel time while enabling sustainable aviation.
The company envisions a future where cargo and passengers can travel between continents in a matter of hours, using zero-carbon hydrogen fuel to minimize environmental impact. Destinus combines innovations in propulsion, aerodynamics, and cryogenic hydrogen systems to pioneer ultra-fast, clean air mobility.
Founded in 2021 by aerospace entrepreneur Mikhail Kokorich, Destinus operates across several European countries, including Switzerland, Germany, France, and Spain. The company is backed by public funding, including European government support, and aims to reshape the global aviation landscape.
Features
Destinus’ technology focuses on creating next-generation aircraft capable of hypersonic flight—flying at speeds over Mach 5 (6,000+ km/h)—powered entirely by hydrogen.
Hypersonic Flight Capability
Destinus aircraft are designed to reach hypersonic speeds, dramatically cutting travel time. For example, a flight from Frankfurt to Sydney could take under 4 hours compared to over 20 hours today.
Hydrogen Propulsion System
The aircraft will use liquid hydrogen as fuel, a zero-carbon alternative to traditional aviation fuels. Hydrogen propulsion ensures high energy density and low emissions.
Hybrid Jet and Rocket Engine Configuration
Destinus is developing a hybrid propulsion system that combines air-breathing jet engines for takeoff and landing with rocket-based propulsion for hypersonic cruising at high altitudes.
Cryogenic Hydrogen Storage and Fuel Management
To support hydrogen-powered flight, the aircraft incorporates advanced cryogenic fuel tanks and systems for storing and managing liquid hydrogen at extremely low temperatures.
Innovative Aerodynamic Design
The aircraft features a waverider fuselage, optimized for high-speed performance and minimal drag, with materials designed to withstand the intense heat of hypersonic flight.
Dual-Use Technology
While initially focused on cargo transportation, the technology is designed to support future passenger operations and has dual-use potential in commercial and defense applications.
How It Works
Destinus aircraft are designed to operate in three flight regimes: takeoff and subsonic climb, supersonic and hypersonic cruising, and subsonic descent and landing.
Takeoff & Climb: The aircraft takes off using air-breathing turbojet engines, powered by hydrogen. These engines operate similarly to traditional jet engines but are optimized for hydrogen fuel.
Supersonic/Hypersonic Cruise: Once at high altitude (above 30 km), the propulsion system transitions to rocket-based propulsion, allowing the aircraft to reach hypersonic speeds exceeding Mach 5.
Descent & Landing: As the aircraft approaches its destination, it slows down to subsonic speeds and transitions back to air-breathing engines for controlled descent and landing.
Throughout the flight, cryogenic hydrogen storage systems manage the fuel, maintaining it at ultra-low temperatures and feeding it to the engines.
The aircraft’s thermal management systems protect it from extreme aerodynamic heating, while the autonomous flight control system ensures safe operation at high speeds and altitudes.
Use Cases
Destinus is developing aircraft for cargo transport as its initial application, with future plans to expand into passenger travel and other strategic sectors.
Ultra-Fast Cargo Delivery
The first-generation aircraft, known as Destinus 3, will support international cargo operations, enabling same-day delivery between continents. This is particularly valuable for sectors like:
Time-sensitive logistics
Medical and pharmaceutical shipments
High-value electronics and components
Defense and emergency supplies
Future Passenger Travel
In the long term, Destinus aims to bring hypersonic travel to the commercial aviation sector, making ultra-fast international travel accessible to passengers.
Defense and Aerospace Applications
Due to its dual-use potential, Destinus technology is relevant for aerospace defense, especially for rapid deployment and logistics over long distances.
Hydrogen Propulsion Development
The company also contributes to broader hydrogen aviation research, partnering with government agencies and institutions to accelerate decarbonization in aviation.
Pricing
Destinus does not offer a commercial product yet, so pricing is not available. The company is in the development and testing phase, with prototype aircraft already tested (e.g., Jungfrau and Eiger).
Destinus is funded through a mix of:
Private investment
Public grants (e.g., from Spanish and European governments)
Strategic partnerships in defense, aerospace, and hydrogen innovation
When products reach commercialization, pricing will depend on the aircraft’s capabilities, fuel infrastructure, and support services.
Strengths
Zero-Emission Vision: By using hydrogen, Destinus is aiming to provide carbon-free air mobility, aligning with global net-zero targets.
Speed Advantage: Hypersonic speeds promise a 10x reduction in travel time, revolutionizing global logistics and long-haul travel.
Advanced R&D: The company is already testing demonstrator aircraft, showing significant progress in aerodynamics, propulsion, and cryogenics.
Strong Public Support: Destinus has secured government partnerships and EU funding, validating its importance in strategic innovation areas.
Scalable Architecture: The modular propulsion and fuselage design supports different aircraft sizes and use cases, from cargo to commercial aviation.
Drawbacks
Early-Stage Development: Destinus is still years away from commercial deployment. No aircraft is currently in commercial operation.
Infrastructure Needs: Hydrogen-powered aviation requires specialized infrastructure, including hydrogen production, storage, and fueling networks.
Regulatory Hurdles: Hypersonic and hydrogen flight introduce new safety and certification challenges for aviation authorities.
High R&D Costs: The technical challenges and capital intensity of hypersonic aircraft development may delay scalability.
Limited Market Readiness: While the cargo sector may adopt early, commercial passenger travel with hydrogen at hypersonic speeds will take longer due to safety, comfort, and cost considerations.
Comparison with Other Tools
Compared to Boom Supersonic, which focuses on supersonic jets using SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), Destinus aims for hypersonic speeds and hydrogen propulsion, offering greater speed and environmental benefits.
Unlike SpaceX or Blue Origin, which are focused on space travel, Destinus operates within Earth’s atmosphere, focused on point-to-point transportation.
In contrast to companies like ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen, which focus on short-haul hydrogen-powered aircraft, Destinus is building long-range, high-speed systems.
Destinus is pioneering the convergence of space-grade technology with civil aviation needs—occupying a unique position in aerospace innovation.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
As a pre-commercial aerospace company, no end-user customer reviews are available yet. However, Destinus has received strong support from:
European innovation bodies
The Spanish government’s Ministry of Science
Leading aerospace research organizations
The successful testing of its early prototypes has drawn media attention and validation from engineering experts and venture investors.
Destinus has been featured in outlets such as TechCrunch, Bloomberg, and FlightGlobal for its bold vision and technological milestones.
Conclusion
Destinus is redefining what’s possible in global aviation with its hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft. By combining cutting-edge propulsion systems, zero-carbon fuel, and aerodynamic innovation, the company aims to usher in a new era of ultra-fast, sustainable air mobility.
Though still in development, Destinus represents a major leap forward in both climate-conscious aviation and aerospace speed capabilities. As governments and industries look for scalable solutions to decarbonize transport, Destinus stands at the frontier of what the future of flight could become.
