Airbus Unveils Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft Roadmap for Future of Aviation
Key Ideas
- Airbus plans to launch a new single-aisle hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035, emphasizing its commitment to decarbonizing aviation.
- The company showcased a 2-megawatt electric propulsion system powered by hydrogen and oxygen fuel cells, highlighting the potential for revolutionizing air transport.
- Airbus aims to advance storage, distribution, and propulsion systems for hydrogen aircraft, while advocating for necessary regulatory frameworks to support their development.
- The ZEROe project by Airbus focuses on developing the necessary technology for hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft, demonstrating a shift towards sustainable aviation.
Airbus presented its updated roadmap for future hydrogen-powered commercial aviation operations at the 2025 Airbus Summit. The company announced plans to introduce a new single-aisle hydrogen-powered aircraft as early as 2035, reaffirming its dedication to decarbonize aviation. The technological building blocks include a 2-megawatt electric propulsion system driven by fuel cells converting hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy, with the power supplied to the aircraft through liquid hydrogen tanks. Glenn Llewellyn, Head of the ZEROe Project, expressed confidence in the fully electric concept's potential to power hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft, with a focus on advancing storage, distribution, and propulsion systems in the coming years. Airbus aims to bring forth a commercially viable hydrogen aircraft to the market, foreseeing a future where electric aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells could revolutionize air transport. With a demonstration of a 1.2MW hydrogen-propulsion system in 2023 and subsequent testing of integrated components in 2024, Airbus is progressing towards the development of sustainable aviation solutions. The company emphasizes the importance of regulatory frameworks to enable the realization of hydrogen-powered flight and sustainable air travel.