Airbus plans hydrogen jet, targets 2030 for rollout

Airbus has outlined plans to fast-track the development of hydrogen-powered aircraft, refining its ZEROe project roadmap as it seeks to introduce a commercially viable hydrogen jet in the coming decades, the aircraft manufacturer said in an emailed statement on Wednesday.

The aerospace giant reaffirmed its commitment to pioneering the future of commercial aviation with next-generation aircraft, including a hydrogen-powered model.

Airbus is now focusing on key technological advancements that will support the transition to fuel-cell propulsion, which it sees as the most promising pathway for zero-emission flight.

Airbus Head of Future Programmes, Bruno Fichefeux, at the 2025 Airbus Summit, said, “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.”

These technologies were notably showcased as part of a new, notional concept of a hydrogen aircraft powered by four 2-megawatt electric propulsion engines, each driven by a fuel cell system that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy.

The four fuel cell systems would be supplied via two liquid hydrogen tanks. This concept will continue to be refined over the coming years as additional tests will help mature the technologies associated with hydrogen storage and distribution, as well as with the propulsion systems.

Airbus Head of the ZEROe Project, Glenn Llewellyn, adds, “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.”

In 2023, Airbus successfully demonstrated a 1.2 MW hydrogen propulsion system, and in 2024, end-to-end testing of an integrated fuel cell stack, electric motors, gearboxes, inverters and heat exchangers was completed.

To address liquid hydrogen handling and distribution challenges in flight, Airbus, in collaboration with Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, has developed the Liquid Hydrogen Breadboard in Grenoble, France. Integrated ground testing is planned for 2027 at the Electric Aircraft System Test House in Munich, combining the propulsive bench and hydrogen distribution system for comprehensive system validation.

Beyond the aircraft technologies, Airbus said it will continue to foster the emergence of a hydrogen aviation economy and the associated regulatory framework, which are also critical enablers to the advent of hydrogen-powered flight at scale.