Airbus has announced plans for a next-generation single-aisle aircraft and a revised ZEROe project to advance hydrogen-powered flight technologies.
Airbus confirmed its commitment to commercially viable hydrogen aircraft during the 2025 Airbus Summit, presenting key technology building blocks for fully electric, fuel-cell-powered commercial aircraft.
The technologies were showcased in a new concept of a hydrogen aircraft powered by four 2-megawatt electric propulsion engines, each powered by a fuel cell system. This converts hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy.
According to the company, two liquid hydrogen tanks will power four fuel cell systems, and hydrogen storage, distribution, and propulsion technologies will be further refined over the coming years, Airbus said at the summit.
Airbus plans to conduct integrated ground testing at the Electric Aircraft System Test House in Munich in 2027, combining a propulsive bench and hydrogen distribution system for comprehensive system validation.
It wants to promote a hydrogen aviation economy and regulatory framework, enabling the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered flight at scale, beyond aircraft technologies.
Bruno Fichefeux , head of the future program at Airbus, said, “Hydrogen is at the heart of our commitment to decarbonize 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 revolutionize air transport for the better, complementing the sustainable aviation fuel pathway.”
Glenn Llewellyn , Head of the ZEROe Project, Airbus, said, “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.”
It must be noted that Airbus demonstrated a 1.2 MW hydrogen-propulsion system in 2023 and completed end-to-end testing in 2024. In collaboration with Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, they developed the Liquid Hydrogen Breadboard (LH2BB) in Grenoble.
