Airbus has pushed back its plans for an electric commercial aircraft by up to a decade due to supply challenges with green hydrogen, the company told Skift.
The project, launched in 2020 and backed by French government funding, aimed to build a hydrogen-powered aircraft capable of carrying up to 200 passengers and flying up to 2,000 miles.
Airbus, which originally targeted delivery in 2035 calling it the biggest innovation in aviation since the jet engine, said it is not walking away from the project entirely.
“We have not backed away from our commitment on hydrogen,” a spokesperson said. “While we’ve announced a 5–10 year delay, mainly due to the limited availability of green hydrogen at the scale we need, we are not doubling down on our commitment to bring a commercially viable, fully electric aircraft to the skies.”
What is Green Hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is made by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity from wind or solar. The hydrogen is converted to energy using devices called fuel-cells.
The process emits no carbon, and the hydrogen powers an electric propeller system that produces only water vapor.
While far cleaner than traditional fossil fuel-based jet fuel, water vapor is still a greenhouse gas.
A NASA report states that water vapor is responsible for about half of the planet’s natural greenhouse effect. It states that increased levels of water vapor in the atmosphere could speed up the impact on the atmosphere of other greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide.
Despite the promise of green hydrogen, some reports suggest the technology has struggled to take off.
UK firm Haush, which works on the research and development of green hydrogen, pointed out some of the roadblocks in a recent report.
It said one major issue is lack of demand. In the UK, for instance, the government has allocated significant funding for green hydrogen projects – but very few have progressed to the point of being approved and signed off.
Airbus did not respond to Skift’s request for comment on demand issues.
Who Else Is Building Hydrogen-Powered Planes?
ZeroAvia, a U.S.-UK company, is also developing hydrogen-powered electric aircraft, which it says could reduce emissions by up to 40%.
In 2023, it flew what it claimed was the largest plane to run on zero emissions, a 19-seat aircraft powered by a hydrogen engine from a test site in England.
The company plans to launch two types of aircraft: a 10–20 seat plane with a 300-mile range by 2026, and a 40–80 seat model with a 700-mile range by 2028. It has not reported any delays to its timeline.
Other major players are also exploring hydrogen. EasyJet and Rolls-Royce previously completed a ground test of a hydrogen-powered jet engine.
But the path ahead remains challenging. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), told Skift the sector may struggle to meet its 2050 net-zero target.
“Aircraft manufacturers have backed off their commitments for medium-term delivery of CO2-saving products such as hydrogen-powered aircraft,” an IATA spokesperson told Skift. “Airlines are committed and determined. But this is not our show alone. We need much more action behind the words of regulators, fuel suppliers, and manufacturers.”
Skift’s in-depth reporting on climate issues is made possible through the financial support of Intrepid Travel. This backing allows Skift to bring you high-quality journalism on one of the most important topics facing our planet today. Intrepid is not involved in any decisions made by Skift’s editorial team.
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