Airbus reveals 'zero emissions' hydrogen-fuelled aircraft for 2035

Airbus has unveiled a trio of zero emissions passenger aircraft powered by hydrogen that it claims could take to the skies by 2035.

The new designs, which will form part of the ZEROe line, included a turbofan aircraft with a range of 2,000 nautical miles, a modified gas-turbine engine running on hydrogen and capacity for 200 passengers.

Airbus has also designed  a propeller powered aircraft that can carry 100 passengers and a blended wing aircraft that it claims would be able to carry 200 people and have a range of up to 2,000 nautical miles.

The aerospace manufacturer, known for its giant A380 superjumbo, said the designs would rely on hydrogen fuel and storage, meaning their only emission would be water.

Jet fuel-powered commercial aviation contributes around 2pc of all global carbon emissions and that figure has been rising. This has led to airlines experimenting with more fuel efficient aircraft and even electric designs for short trips.

But aircraft manufacturers face not only the challenge of designing safe, carbon neutral aircraft but also upending their supply chains.

Airport infrastructure would need to be re-configured to support hydrogen re-fuelling, while challenges remain in the costly process of isolating hydrogen fuel.

Guillaume Faury, Airbus chief executive, said: “These concepts will help us explore and mature the design and layout of the world’s first climate-neutral, zero-emission commercial aircraft, which we aim to put into service by 2035.

“The transition to hydrogen, as the primary power source for these concept planes, will require decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem.”

“I strongly believe that the use of hydrogen - both in synthetic fuels and as a primary power source for commercial aircraft - has the potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact.”

Glenn Llewellyn, head of zero emissions aircraft at Airbus, said the new aircraft could use a mix of combustion engines, powered by hydrogen fuel, and battery fuel cells. But he said electric battery power alone was not enough for aircraft.

He said: "Batteries are still interesting for urban air mobility vehicles. The challenge when we really go to larger commercial aircraft like applications we see the need for hydrogen, there is far more times energy needed. Batteries are just not improving at the rate we need."

Mr Llewellyn added: "To meet the climate change agreement there needs to be impressive implementation of renewable energy and hydrogen."

Mr Llewellyn said Airbus would be planning on "several billions per year" from 2025 on capital expenditure on the new aircraft designs. He added demonstration aircraft could be in the air within five years.

Airbus and the airline industry are facing huge challenges from coronavirus with flights cancelled around the world.

The pandemic has also hastened the demise of Airbus's massive superjumbo aircraft. Airlines have begun grounding the expensive aircraft. Airbus announced it would end production of the A380 and several airlines are now retiring the aircraft.

While Airbus has revealed its hydrogen fuel designs, rival Boeing has developing short-haul "air taxis", powered by electric batteries, that can offer vertical take-off and landing.