At the 2025 Airbus Summit, Airbus outlined its strategic vision for the future of commercial aviation. They discussed the development of a new single-aisle aircraft, anticipated to be operational by the late 2030s. Additionally, they provided updates on their ZEROe initiative, which is dedicated to progressing hydrogen-powered flight technology.
Airbus reaffirmed its dedication to introducing a commercially viable hydrogen aircraft to the market and unveiled several essential technological components that will facilitate the development of a fully electric, fuel-cell-powered commercial aircraft. This approach emerges as the most promising after extensive research into hydrogen aviation.
“Hydrogen is at the heart of our commitment to decarbonise aviation. While we've adjusted our roadmap, our dedication to hydrogen-powered flight is unwavering. Just as we saw in the automotive sector, fully electric aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells have the potential in the longer term to revolutionise air transport for the better, complementing the sustainable aviation fuel pathway.” Said Bruno Fichefeux, Airbus Head of Future Programmes.
These technologies were prominently featured in a conceptual design for a hydrogen aircraft, which is powered by four 2-megawatt electric propulsion engines, each utilizing a fuel cell system that transforms hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. The four fuel cell systems are supplied by two liquid hydrogen tanks. This concept will undergo further refinement in the coming years, as additional testing will advance the technologies related to hydrogen storage and distribution, along with the propulsion systems.
“Over the last five years, we have explored multiple hydrogen-propulsion concepts, before down-selecting this fully electric concept. We are confident it could provide the necessary power density for a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft and could evolve as we mature the technology. In the coming years, we will concentrate on advancing the storage, distribution and propulsion systems, while also advocating for the regulatory framework needed to ensure these aircraft can take flight.” Glenn Llewellyn, Airbus Head of the ZEROe Project, added.
In 2023, Airbus successfully demonstrated a 1.2MW hydrogen propulsion system. By 2024, they completed end-to-end testing of an integrated fuel cell stack, electric motors, gearboxes, inverters, and heat exchangers. To tackle the challenges of liquid hydrogen handling and distribution during flight, Airbus, in partnership with Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, developed the Liquid Hydrogen BreadBoard (LH2BB) in Grenoble, France. Integrated ground testing is scheduled for 2027 at the Electric Aircraft System Test House in Munich, where the propulsive bench and hydrogen distribution system will be combined for thorough system validation.
In addition to advancing aircraft technologies, Airbus will continue to promote the development of a hydrogen aviation economy and the corresponding regulatory framework, both of which are essential for facilitating the large-scale adoption of hydrogen-powered flight.
