Hydrogen skeptics may have celebrated too soon. During the presentation of its financial results on February 20, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury provided an update on the company’s decarbonization roadmap.
Addressing the future of hydrogen aviation, Faury stated: “Yes, we are postponing our hydrogen aircraft.” But he immediately clarified: “No, we are not abandoning hydrogen, which has a crucial role to play in decarbonization.”
Airbus now estimates that the hydrogen ecosystem is 5 to 10 years behind schedule—roughly in line with expectations when the project was first announced in 2020. More significantly, Faury revealed that Airbus now sees fuel cells as “the most promising solution” and will be shifting research efforts in that direction, effectively moving away from hydrogen combustion engines. He compared the potential impact of hydrogen-powered aircraft to the role of electric vehicles in transforming the automotive industry.
Hydrogen Remains at the Core of Airbus’ Strategy
When pressed on the topic during a press conference, Faury, visibly frustrated by a question from a Le Figaro (French newspaper) journalist, took a moment to set the record straight: “Hydrogen remains at the core of Airbus’ decarbonization strategy.” He emphasized that significant progress had already been made, with years of research and testing. However, he acknowledged that “the ecosystem is taking longer to develop than expected.”
Despite the delays, Airbus is continuing its work on hydrogen propulsion and refining the technological building blocks required for a commercially viable hydrogen aircraft. The company also confirmed that while its hydrogen-focused teams will be scaled down, they will now specialize in fuel cell technology.
A Technically Feasible Aircraft—But Not by 2035
Faury reaffirmed that Airbus will not meet its initial 2035 target for launching a hydrogen-powered aircraft. He pointed out that progress depends not only on technological development but also on regulatory frameworks and the global availability of hydrogen infrastructure.
Crucially, Airbus has now determined that a hydrogen-powered aircraft is “technically feasible.” However, Faury stressed that “it needs to be competitive and have a market.” That, he explained, is what will take more time.
In the meantime, Airbus will focus on decarbonization through sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and more energy-efficient aircraft. The company also announced that it will address these decarbonization challenges in greater detail during the Airbus Summit on March 24-25.
For Airbus’ official response on hydrogen, watch this video starting at 1:00:00. The topic is also discussed in the financial results presentation from 0:30:23 to 0:32:40.
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