Representatives of the French trade unions said that Airbus will not be able to implement all points of the plan to withdraw to the market in 2035 a passenger aircraft with hydrogen fuel. In Airbus, this confirmed this, explaining the delays with huge technological problems that no one expected along this path.
Airbus passenger ranger on hydrogen fuel. Image source: Airbus
«We recognize that the development of a hydrogen ecosystem, including infrastructure, production, distribution and standards – a legal framework, is a difficult task that requires global cooperation and investments, the Airbus statement said. “Recent events indicate that the progress in the field of key factors, in particular, the availability of hydrogen obtained from renewable energy sources on a large scale, is more slow than expected.”
According to trade unions, Airbus plans to submit to the operation in 2035 a 100-seater passenger turbojet double-screwed aircraft with hydrogen fuel (as an option-on electric engines and hydrogen fuel cells) will linger for a period of 5 to 10 years. It was this moment that Airbus did not comment on the new probable dates for the launch of the hydrogen airliner.
The trade union also said that Airbus is studying the possibility of stopping a certain branches of the project related to the creation of a hydrogen fuel aircraft without calling them. Airbus said that “they are constantly evaluating technological, normative and ecosystem changes to guarantee that the company’s plans remain ambitious and achievable.”
Earlier, the company stated that it expected to complete the development of a hydrogen engine by 2026, with the launch of a test program in 2027 or 2028. New terms can be shifted for up to 10 years.
The world aviation industry set itself the goal of achieving the so -called zero level of emissions by 2050. But more and more participants in the industry question this plan, since alternative types of fuel are made in a meager volume, and many passengers do not want to pay additional expenses associated with environmentally friendly flights.