Airbus Accelerates Hydrogen Aircraft Development, Using A380 as Testbed

Airbus A380 aircraft.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] French aircraft manufacturer Airbus, accelerating the development of hydrogen aircraft, is using the ultra-luxurious large aircraft A380, once called the "luxury hotel in the sky," as a testbed.

According to Bloomberg News on the 22nd (local time), Airbus announced that it signed a partnership agreement with engine manufacturer CFM International to develop a hydrogen aircraft program. Airbus has set a goal to launch hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035 and is focusing on development. With this partnership, Airbus plans to conduct ground tests first this year, followed by test flights by the end of 2026. The goal is to officially adopt this technology in 2027 and release hydrogen aircraft by 2035.

The reason Airbus's announcement is notable is that the aircraft used for test flights is the A380. The ultra-luxurious large aircraft A380 has faced production suspension risks even before COVID-19 due to high operating costs such as fuel and parking fees. Airbus plans to install a fifth engine powered by hydrogen on the rear fuselage of the A380, alongside the existing four turbines, for this test. Airbus and CFM explained that although the actual hydrogen aircraft will be smaller than the A380, the test process requires extra space for additional tanks, test equipment, and the fifth engine to be placed at the rear of the aircraft, which is why the A380 was chosen as the testbed.

Bloomberg interpreted, "This test program gives the troubled superjumbo (A380) a second chance to test new technology."

As global efforts continue to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the aviation industry is also accelerating the development of hydrogen aircraft. Boeing, Airbus's rival in the U.S., has experimentally used hydrogen fuel on its unmanned aircraft ScanEagle 3 but has stated that achieving the 2035 commercialization target is realistically difficult. Engine manufacturers such as GE, Safran, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce Holdings are also fiercely competing to dominate the new market, Bloomberg reported.