The brief

Analyst view

• Largest commercial aircraft maker with 182,000 employees worldwide.
• ZEROe hydrogen airliner pushed from 2035 to the 2040s (Feb 2025); the A380 fuel-cell flight test was cancelled.

Technical approach

As reported

Hydrogen storage

Liquid hydrogen tanks

Hydrogen stored at -253°C in cryogenic tanks. Liquid form takes less volume than gas.

Fuel cells

Electrochemical power

Hydrogen and oxygen recombine electrochemically, producing electricity and water vapor.

Electric motors

Four 2.4-megawatt motors

Four 2.4 MW electric motors drive propellers, converting fuel-cell power to thrust.

MTU partnership

Joint venture

MTU JV combines Airbus's aircraft and hydrogen knowledge with MTU's fuel-cell and certification expertise.

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