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Airbus is meeting a number of technology and testing milestones as it moves towards its ambition of bringing to market a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035. 

Many of these milestones revolve around establishing the means of propulsion, either via hybrid hydrogen-electric fuel cells or direct hydrogen combustion. Airbus has even established a joint venture with automotive supplierElringKlinger AG, Airbus Aerostack, to develop hydrogen fuel cell stacks at the heart of an electric propulsion system.

Airbus is exploring both hydrogen-combustion and fuel-cell propulsion technologies, for which demonstrators have been launched. It has also set-up dedicated Development Centres in France, the UK, Germany and Spain to work on tanks and cryogenic fuel systems.

Airbus test aircraft A380 MSN1 is taking the lead in testing these technologies that will be vital to bringing a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft to market.

The race for hydrogen-powered commercial aviation starts on the ground. Hydrogen has to be produced, transported and stored in the right quantity, at the right time, place and cost. Its production and use must be regulated and certified.

Airbus believes the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure at airports is a prerequisite to support the widespread scale-up and adoption of hydrogen aircraft. We’re partnering with hydrogen producers and distributors worldwide, airports and airlines to build the right ecosystem to operate a hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035. We’re already bringing together all the key players to the table.