At this week’s Hysky conference in Marseille, Airbus’ long-time rival Boeing presented its vision for hydrogen and its derivatives. Instead of tuning in to Airbus’ own online event, the Airbus Summit, attendees had the opportunity to hear about Boeing’s roadmap.
Representing the American aircraft manufacturer was Steven Gillard, who oversees sustainability efforts in Europe. He highlighted Boeing’s long-standing experience with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), noting that the company conducted its first SAF test flight in 2008 with Virgin Atlantic. In 2010, a blend of SAF and kerosene was tested on a US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet. More recently, Boeing supported the first commercial SAF-powered flight in 2018, operated by FedEx.
A Longstanding Commitment to SAF
In 2021, Boeing pledged to make all its aircraft 100% SAF-compatible by 2030—a goal similar to Airbus’. By 2024, the company had purchased a total of 23.8 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel. Boeing is also engaged in research on SAF’s atmospheric impact alongside NASA, the FAA, and DLR. Additionally, it has partnered with European and Middle Eastern entities, including Masdar and Zero Petroleum, to advance SAF production. The company is also investing in biofuels through agreements with firms like SkyNRG and Wagner.
Boeing’s Experience with Hydrogen
Beyond SAF, Boeing has a history with hydrogen, particularly from its work in rocketry. However, its involvement in hydrogen-powered aviation also dates back several years. In 2008, it tested fuel cells in a two-seater aircraft, followed by their integration as auxiliary power units aboard a 737. In 2012, Boeing flew its Phantom Eye aircraft using liquid hydrogen. It later incorporated hydrogen-powered batteries into drones in 2015 and 2020. More recently, in 2021, the company developed a cryogenic hydrogen tank for the aerospace sector.
At Hysky, Steven Gillard commented on Airbus’ timeline for hydrogen aviation, saying he was unsurprised by the projected delays. He noted that significant challenges remain in scaling hydrogen from the demonstrator phase to commercially viable aircraft—particularly regarding hydrogen production.
Long-Haul Hydrogen Flights After 2050?
A slide shared with the audience outlined Boeing’s hydrogen timeline, based on industry projections from the ATAG Waypoint report. According to this estimate:
- Hydrogen could begin powering small commuter aircraft (9 to 50 seats) on flights under an hour from 2025.
- From 2030, it could be used in regional aircraft (50 to 100 seats) on flights lasting 30 to 90 minutes.
- By 2035, hydrogen might be viable for short-haul flights (100 to 150 seats) lasting 45 to 120 minutes.
- From 2040, medium-haul aircraft (100 to 250 seats) could use hydrogen on flights lasting 60 to 150 minutes.
However, for long-haul flights in 2045 and 2050, hydrogen was notably absent from Boeing’s projections. Instead, SAF remains the primary candidate for decarbonising long-distance air travel.
Steven Gillard did not provide further details on Boeing’s long-term plans for hydrogen aviation.
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