Airbus is putting the brakes on its zero-emission hydrogen-powered aircraft project, on account of technical challenges and slower adoption of the technology, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The company, which previously targeted to launch the aircraft by 2035, spent more than $1.7B on the project, sources told WSJ. Airbus has since cut the project's budget by a quarter and reallocated staff, pushing its timeline by as much as a decade.
Project challenges include reconfiguring engines to run on a different fuel, storing hydrogen in liquid form at -423°F, and requiring a new supply chain for the fuel. Airbus has been exploring using fuel cells, but the additional weight and limited electricity generation would lead to fewer seats and a narrower range for the aircraft.
The company said delaying the project would give it more time to fine-tune the technology. "Our destination is not changing," said Bruno Fichefeux, its head of future programs. "To get there, we need to adjust to reality."
In an earnings call in February, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said pushing the project's timeline would provide time to further develop the performance of fuel cell propulsion and liquid hydrogen system technologies.
Many companies have been scaling back their green initiatives, and broader enthusiasm for hydrogen is fading. Oil giant BP, which is pivoting back to fossil fuels, and Finland's Neste recently pulled plans for new hydrogen plants.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Daily decarbonization data and news delivered to your inbox
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Companies
Latest issues
-
Honda Repositions Hydrogen Strategy After Michigan Pivot
Inside This Issue 🚪 Honda Exits Fuel Cell Partnership as Hydrogen Pivots ♻️ A Breakthrough That Turns Exhaust CO2 Into Useful Materials ✈️ FedEx Takes Delivery of SAF at Dallas Fort Worth and New ...
-
QIMC Hits 5,558 ppm Hydrogen in Nova Scotia Discovery
Inside This Issue 🔍 QIMC Hits 5,558 ppm Hydrogen in Nova Scotia Discovery 🏗️ Haffner Energy Launches the C-iC Modular Units Line to Unlock Financing for Mid-Sized Biofuel Projects 🌱 CF Industries,...
-
$77.5B Carbon Pipeline Just Got Federal Backing
Inside This Issue 💰 Congress Preserves Carbon Management Funding in FY26 Bill Heading to Trump's Desk 🧪 HYCO1 Announces Three U.S. Patents Powering the Most Advanced Syngas Production Platform Thr...
Company Announcements
-
FedEx Takes Delivery of SAF at Dallas Fort Worth and New York–JFK International Airports
In 2025, FedEx deployed blended SAF for the first time at five major U.S. airports. MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 29, 2026 – FedEx introduced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at two more U.S. airports towar...
-
Air Products (NYSE: APD), the world’s leading supplier of hydrogen, today announced that it was recently awarded supply contracts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) total...
-
Green Ammonia Demonstration Plant of JGC Begins Producing Ammonia Using Hydrogen From Asahi Kasei
Asahi Kasei Corp. is pleased to announce that a demonstration plant1 utilizing green ammonia production technology of JGC Holdings Corporation (JGC) began producing ammonia in January 2026, using h...
-
A Breakthrough That Turns Exhaust CO2 Into Useful Materials
Summary: Scientists have created a device that captures carbon dioxide and transforms it into a useful chemical in a single step. The new electrode works with realistic exhaust gases rather than re...