Airbus partners with Avolon to explore future of hydrogen aviation

Farnborough, 24 July 2024 - Airbus has announced a new partnership with aircraft lessor, Avolon, to study the potential of hydrogen-powered aircraft, marking the very first collaboration of the ZEROe Project with an operating lessor. 

Announced at the Farnborough Airshow, Airbus and Avolon will investigate how future hydrogen-powered aircraft could be financed and commercialised, and how they might be supported by the leasing business model.

Airbus is putting significant resources into exploring how the industry can introduce hydrogen-powered aircraft and how it works on the ground with airports and airlines. The development of a viable hydrogen ecosystem is a key enabler of the industry’s goal to reach near zero emissions.

Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Avolon, commented, “Joining the ZEROe Project is another step in Avolon’s sustainability journey and we look forward to building on our long-standing partnership with Airbus to consider how the next generation of aircraft will be financed and commercialised. It will take a wide ecosystem of contributors to overcome the challenges of hydrogen powered commercial flight, and Airbus is playing a crucial role in bringing partners together. While we continue to focus on supporting our customers in modernising their fleets with lower emissions aircraft, it is also vital we look beyond that at what can further drive our industry’s decarbonisation.”

Airbus Vice President ZEROe Project, Glenn Llewellyn, said, “There is real value in bringing together industry players to help solve the challenges facing aviation. We know we can’t solve decarbonisation alone and welcome Avolon’s expertise and worldwide leadership in the aircraft leasing business. Working together to consider how the transition can be commercialised and financed for airline customers is crucial to success.”

Notes to editors 

Airbus is actively engaging with key partners at a regional and international level to facilitate the development of the hydrogen ecosystem. This is an essential step to get hydrogen powered aircraft in the air and help meet global aviation decarbonisation targets.

Airbus has also launched the “Hydrogen Hub at Airports'' programme to promote the further expansion of hydrogen infrastructure in aviation. To date, 18 Hydrogen Hubs at Airports have been launched. The Airbus ZEROe team is also actively engaged with more than 10 airlines to jointly study the deployment of hydrogen-powered aircraft in the future. Further information about Airbus’ hydrogen journey can be found here. 

Avolon, established in 2010, has built a leading position in the global aircraft leasing industry and is ideally positioned to work with Airbus on exploring the potential of hydrogen aviation.

More information on Airbus at the Farnborough International Airshow is available here.

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