Airbus’s Hydrogen-Powered Journey to the Future:

A New Era In the Skies

The sky has been home to humanity’s enduring dreams for centuries. Emulating the freedom of birds, humans combined their desire to soar with technology, thus creating aviation. However, this magnificent adventure has begun to pose a threat to our planet’s future.

Carbon emissions caused by fossil fuels have placed the aviation industry at a critical juncture in the fight against climate change. It is precisely at this point that Airbus’s vision of hydrogen-powered aircraft rises like a hopeful whisper in the sky. This whisper is not just a technology but also a symbol of the legacy we will leave to future generations.

Airbus’s Hydrogen Vision:

At the Airbus Summit held in Toulouse on March 25, 2025, the company updated its roadmap that will shape the future of commercial aviation. It was announced that preparations had begun for a new generation single-aisle aircraft that could enter service in the second half of the 2030s, and the ZEROe project was revised to mature technologies related to hydrogen-powered flight.

Airbus reiterated its commitment to launching a commercially viable hydrogen aircraft and presented some of the key technology building blocks that will enable the emergence of a fully electric, fuel cell-powered commercial aircraft, which has emerged as the most promising path after years of research in hydrogen aviation. Bruno Fichefeux, Head of Airbus Future Programs, said, “Hydrogen is at the heart of our commitment to decarbonize aviation. While we have adjusted our roadmap, our commitment to hydrogen-powered flight remains unwavering. Fully electric aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells, as we have seen in the automotive sector, have the potential to improve air transport in the long term and complement the sustainable aviation fuel pathway.”

These technologies were showcased as part of a new hydrogen aircraft concept powered by four 2-megawatt electric propulsion motors. Each of these motors is powered by a fuel cell system that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. The four fuel cell systems will be fed by two liquid hydrogen tanks. This concept will continue to be developed in the coming years with additional tests to help mature technologies related to hydrogen storage and distribution, as well as propulsion systems.

Glenn Llewellyn, Head of the Airbus ZEROe Project, added, “Over the past five years, we have explored multiple hydrogen propulsion concepts before selecting this fully electric concept. We are confident that this can provide the power density required for a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft and can evolve as we mature the technology. In the coming years, we will focus on developing storage, distribution, and propulsion systems while advocating for the necessary regulatory framework to enable these aircraft to take flight.”

In 2023, Airbus successfully demonstrated a 1.2 MW hydrogen propulsion system, and in 2024, end-to-end tests of an integrated fuel cell stack, electric motors, gearboxes, inverters, and heat exchangers were completed. To address the challenges of carrying and distributing liquid hydrogen in flight, Airbus, in collaboration with Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, developed the Liquid Hydrogen BreadBoard (LH2BB) in Grenoble, France. Integrated ground testing, combining the propulsion test bench and hydrogen distribution system, is planned at the Electric Aircraft System Test House in Munich in 2027 for comprehensive system validation.

Beyond aircraft technologies, Airbus will continue to support the emergence of a hydrogen aviation economy and the related regulatory framework, which are critical for the large-scale introduction of hydrogen-powered flight.

Previous Studies and the Potential of Hydrogen:

The potential of hydrogen-powered aircraft has long been a subject of research. According to a study published by Clean Sky 2 and Fuel Cells & Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertakings, hydrogen-powered aircraft emit zero CO2 emissions and show a 30-50% reduction in effects caused by contrails and cirrus formation compared to kerosene aircraft. The study estimates that hydrogen combustion can reduce the climate impact of flight by 50-75%, and fuel cell technology by 75-90%.

An economic study commissioned by Transport & Environment and conducted by the Steer research group shows that hydrogen aircraft could operate cheaper than fossil fuel aircraft from 2035 onwards. However, this depends on kerosene being taxed sufficiently.


Hydrogen Aviation Economy and Regulatory Framework:

The hydrogen aviation economy is still in its infancy, and there is no regulatory framework to set standards in this area. According to Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, airlines, airports, maintenance organizations, and ground service companies need to ensure they have the capacity to handle hydrogen aircraft. However, we cannot wait for hydrogen aircraft to be ready for commercial service to solve this problem.

According to Clean Air Task Force, the regulatory framework for hydrogen in the United States is fragmented, complex, and involves multiple government agencies. As hydrogen technologies evolve and the clean hydrogen market expands, new regulations for hydrogen storage, transportation, and use may be developed.

Airbus’ Goals and Challenges:

Airbus aims to develop the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft (hydrogen-powered) by 2035. The ZEROe concept aircraft will enable the exploration of various configurations and hydrogen technologies that will shape the development of future zero-emission aircraft.

Airbus notes that research into hydrogen as a potential energy carrier to power future zero-emission aircraft has intensified in recent years. However, the path to hydrogen-powered aircraft requires significant effort within and outside the aviation industry. Airbus estimates that hydrogen has the potential to reduce aviation’s CO2 emissions by up to 50%.

From hydrogen storage, cost, and infrastructure to public perception of safety, the aviation industry faces some major challenges as it works to mature the technology. Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising zero-emission technologies for future aircraft.

Although hydrogen’s energy density per unit mass is three times higher than conventional jet fuel, several challenges need to be addressed before widespread adoption can occur. Technically, aviation engineers will need to take technologies developed in the automotive and space industries and make them compatible with commercial aircraft operations, particularly by reducing weight and cost.

A particular challenge is how to store hydrogen on the aircraft. While liquid hydrogen storage is among the most promising options today, storing hydrogen as compressed gas poses challenges with current aircraft weight and volume requirements. Additionally, the aviation industry will need to achieve safety targets equal to or better than those achieved with current commercial aircraft. Future hydrogen propulsion systems will need to achieve equivalent or better levels of safety before hydrogen-powered aircraft take to the skies.


Hydrogen Infrastructure and Cost Challenges:

Another significant challenge for widespread adoption is the availability and cost of liquid hydrogen at airports. For hydrogen to be truly widely adopted in the aviation industry, it needs to be made available at airports worldwide. Progress in this area is still in its infancy. One of the main challenges is developing the large-scale transportation and infrastructure solutions needed to supply airports with the amount of hydrogen required to fuel aircraft. Hydrogen is abundant in oceans, lakes, and the atmosphere, but it needs to be separated from oxygen in water before it can be used for industrial purposes. Airbus is currently collaborating with both airports and airlines to ensure the necessary hydrogen infrastructure is in place. This includes research into how all airport-related ground transportation (i.e., cargo trucks, passenger buses, aircraft tugs, etc.) can be decarbonized over the 2020s timeline.

Airbus aims to use green hydrogen to fuel its future zero-emission aircraft. Glenn Llewellyn (Vice President Zero-Emission Aircraft) believes that the decline in renewable energy costs and the scaling up of hydrogen production could make green hydrogen increasingly competitive with current options such as jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuels.

Game-Changing Concepts for the Future of Aircraft:

There are two broad types of hydrogen propulsion: hydrogen combustion and hydrogen fuel cells. Airbus’ three zero-emission “concept” aircraft, known as ZEROe, are hybrid hydrogen aircraft. This means they are powered by modified gas turbine engines that burn liquid hydrogen as fuel. They also use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electrical power to complement the gas turbine, resulting in a highly efficient hybrid-electric propulsion system. However, each option has a slightly different approach to integrating the liquid hydrogen storage and distribution system. Airbus engineers have designed integration solutions that carefully consider the challenges and possibilities of each aircraft type.

Turbofan aircraft (120-200 passengers): Will have two hybrid hydrogen turbofan engines providing thrust, capable of intercontinental operation with a range of 2,000+ nautical miles. The liquid hydrogen storage and distribution system will be located behind the rear pressure bulkhead.

Turboprop aircraft (up to 100 passengers): Will have two hybrid hydrogen turboprop engines driving eight-bladed propellers providing thrust, capable of short-haul journeys with a range of 1,000 nautical miles. The liquid hydrogen storage and distribution system will be located behind the rear pressure bulkhead.

Blended-Wing Body aircraft (up to 200 passengers): Liquid storage tanks will be stored under the wings, and two hybrid hydrogen turbofan engines will provide thrust.


These concepts will help explore and mature the design and layout of the world’s first climate-neutral, zero-emission commercial aircraft, which Airbus aims to bring into service by 2035. As hydrogen becomes an increasingly important component in the development of new transportation solutions such as cars and buses, public perception of hydrogen will likely change, which should positively impact the adoption of hydrogen in aircraft. The path to widespread adoption of hydrogen in aviation is still long. However, international coordination between industries is expected to support the development of the hydrogen economy, a significant effort to help achieve ambitious global decarbonization targets over the next two decades.

Electric-Powered Aircraft:

Work on electric-powered aircraft is considered an important step towards a sustainable future in the aviation sector. Research in this area focuses particularly on advances in battery technologies and increasing the efficiency of electric propulsion systems. While small-scale electric aircraft are emerging as a promising alternative for short-haul flights, work is also underway on the use of electric propulsion systems in larger commercial aircraft. These efforts can play a critical role in achieving the aviation sector’s carbon footprint reduction targets.

Airbus’ vision of hydrogen-powered aircraft could be a turning point in the aviation industry. This technology will not only reduce carbon emissions but also open the door to a more sustainable future. For hydrogen to be widely used in aviation, technological advances, as well as the development of a regulatory framework and hydrogen production and distribution infrastructure, are needed.

The future of the skies will rise on the wings of hydrogen.