Airbus Reignites Hydrogen-Electric Engine Ambitions
The new venture aims to accelerate development, testing and certification of a hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system for aviation, with operations expected to begin in 2027.
- On Tuesday, Airbus and MTU Aero Engines announced a joint venture to develop a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell engine, aiming to "accelerate technology development, design, testing and certification of a revolutionary propulsion system for aviation."
- The two companies are expanding a Memorandum of Understanding signed at the Paris Air Show in June 2025 to establish a new "European powerhouse" capable of transforming advanced research into industrialised, certifiable electric propulsion systems.
- Bruno Fichefeux, Head of Future Programmes at Airbus, called the move the "next logical step," noting Airbus contributes "extensive commercial aircraft program knowledge, significant fuel cell propulsion and liquid hydrogen expertise."
- Stefan Weber, SVP Engineering and Technology at MTU Aero Engines, stated the project aims to pave the way for a "safe, reliable and economical propulsion system," with operations expected to start in 2027.
- This initiative supports the ZEROe ambition, launched in 2020; while the program faced delays extending development by five to 10 years past the original 2035 target, Airbus reaffirmed its commitment to developing a hydrogen-powered airliner.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Airbus reignites hydrogen-electric engine ambitions
Airbus and MTU Aero Engines are ramping up efforts to develop a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell engine with the launch of a new joint venture. On July 7, 2026, the two companies said they were deepening their partnership in an extension to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the Paris Air Show in June 2025. Airbus and MTU Aero Engines say the aim of the project is to “accelerate technology development, design, testing and certifica…
Airbus plans to set up a company with aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines for the production of hydrogen engines. In the long term, these are intended to become an alternative to fossil fuel combustion engines, thereby reducing CO2 emissions from aviation.
The exhaust gases of conventional aircraft engines are particularly harmful to the climate. Electric propulsion with batteries is not suitable for larger machines. Airbus and MTU are trying in a third way.Airbus and the engine manufacturer MTU want to jointly develop an exhaust-free fuel cell engine for aircraft. A joint venture is expected to develop and market the new engine from 2027 onwards, as the two companies announced.In 2025, MTU and Ai…
The aeronautics giant and the German engine manufacturer will create a joint venture to develop a complete propulsion system for a 100-seat aircraft.
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