Hydrogen propulsion will not take off before 2050

  • Reading Time:2Minutes

The European aircraft manufacturer promises to introduce hydrogen as a fuel for regional aviation by 2035, but does not expect the technology to be widely adopted by mid-century. Reuters reports that Airbus gave a briefing on its longer-term plans to European Union leaders, a presentation made in February and now made public by a lobbying group after obtaining it through a data request. In it, the aircraft manufacturer made it clear that the new aircraft to replace the A320 family could arrive in the 2030s, but that even before then, the use of hydrogen propulsion could be ruled out.

At the same time, Airbus still plans to launch the new engine platform by 2035, but this will be mainly for regional and shorter-haul aircraft. In response, an Airbus spokesperson said that it had not yet been decided which market segment the first hydrogen-powered aircraft would enter. The full use of electricity, hydrogen or sustainable kerosene could be expected from 2040 for A220 size aircraft, and from the mid 2030s for smaller aircraft. CEO Guillaume Faury confirmed at Airlines 4 Europe’s annual general meeting that, despite the challenges, the first hydrogen-powered aircraft is expected to arrive in 2035.

Airbus and Boeing have already begun research into the technology for the next generation of aircraft, but David Calhoun, CEO of the US manufacturer, has also ruled out the possibility of producing any meaningful quantities of hydrogen-powered aircraft before 2050, according to Reuters. However, some countries are putting considerable resources into research into new technologies, with France spending €1.5 billion to support the development of the successor to the Airbus A320.

In the meantime, the European manufacturer wants to promote the use of alternative fuels from sustainable sources, which can reduce emissions by 80% over their entire life cycle. Airbus unveiled the concept for its hydrogen-powered aircraft last September, but indicated at the time that the transition would be a challenge for ground handling, as fuel availability would have to be ensured everywhere.

Recent article

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

The flying ambulance arrives at lightning speed

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

The electric car revolution could continue in the air

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Unmanned aerial taxis flew in a unique formation

Electric airplane News & Articles

NASA’s Innovations: Soaring into an Electrified Flight Future

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Could eVTOLs and Air Taxis Replace Public Transport ?

Additional aircraft News & Articles

The Morphobot: An Innovation in Multimodal Robotics

News & Articles Points of interest

The Dawn of AI Air Travel: Airbus and its Vision for Autonomy

Air taxi News & Articles

Volocopter’s High-Flying Ambitions for the Olympics

News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel

The Horizon of Aviation: Airbus’ Vision for 2035 and Beyond

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

A Shift in Aviation Licensing and Training

Drones News & Articles

Russia’s Path to Drone Supremacy

Air taxi News & Articles

Israel’s Pioneering Venture into Drone Transport

Air taxi News & Articles

More efficient air taxis in the future

Air taxi News & Articles

Testing of perhaps the most promising air taxi begins

Additional aircraft News & Articles

Navigating the Future: Autonomous Helicopters Soar High

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Embracing the Future: Seoul’s Leap into Urban Air Mobility
More articles you may be interested in...

Air taxi News & Articles

The Coming Electric Air Taxi Revolution: Competing with Train Tickets ?

The Dutch company, Electron Aviation, is making a bold promise that is set to disrupt.......... READ MORE

News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel

Unveiling the Whisper of Innovation: CycloTech’s Exploration into CycloRotor Noise Levels

In the fast-paced realm of aeronautical engineering, the introduction of CycloRotors has heralded a paradigm.......... READ MORE

Points of interest

Sailing the Skies in Style: Airbus’s Novel Vision for Air Travel

Navigating the dawn of a fresh chapter in aviation, Airbus recently shared its audacious plans.......... READ MORE

Drones News & Articles

Boosting Agriculture: A Drone Revolution Awaits in Budapest

The stage is set in Hungary, as it stands on the brink of an exciting.......... READ MORE

News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel

Embracing the Future with Rolls-Royce’s Revolutionary UltraFan Engine

Just when you thought the apex of innovation had been reached, Rolls-Royce challenges the notion.......... READ MORE

Air taxi News & Articles

Testing of perhaps the most promising air taxi begins

For some of us, the very idea of an air taxi evokes scenes straight out.......... READ MORE

Additional aircraft News & Articles

Navigating the Future: Autonomous Helicopters Soar High

Unmanned helicopters are no longer a concept in some futuristic Sci-Fi novel. They're here, revolutionizing.......... READ MORE

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Embracing the Future: Seoul’s Leap into Urban Air Mobility

In an audacious move to revolutionize its transport system, Seoul - the bustling South Korean.......... READ MORE