Airbus delays launch of its hydrogen-powered aircraft beyond initial deadline

At the Airbus Summit 2025 held in Toulouse, the company discussed its hydrogen aircraft project, initially planned for service entry in 2035. The timeline has now been extended by at least five to ten years as Airbus evaluates the project's feasibility and waits for technological advancements necessary for construction.

The aircraft, named ZEROe, was introduced in 2020 as part of Airbus' strategy to market a hydrogen-powered commercial plane. In February, news surfaced about postponing the launch beyond 2035. This delay allows Airbus to reassess commercial viability and reduce the weight of ZEROe's fuel cell technology by 20%. Additionally, they aim to push for a regulatory framework that supports a hydrogen ecosystem.

Airbus CEO Faury highlighted the absence of such a framework as a significant challenge: “We have not stopped the project on hydrogen flying... We’ve concluded positively on the feasibility of a commercial airliner powered by hydrogen, but we have come to the conclusion as well that first, with today’s conditions, that would not be a competitive aircraft compared to other ones.”