Airbus continues to pioneer sustainable aerospace with ZEROe concept aircraft

Airbus recently revealed three concept designs of the world’s first zero-emission (ZEROe) commercial aircraft that puts hydrogen at the heart of future aircraft. 

For Airbus, hydrogen represents one of the most promising zero-emission technologies to reduce aviation’s climate impact and offering a high-energy density almost three times superior to jet fuel, hydrogen has emerged to provide numerous advantages for the aviation industry thanks to it being a safe, versatile, lightweight and storable element, either as a compressed gas or liquid. 

Currently, Airbus is exploring three concept aircraft:

• A Turbofan concept in which two hybrid hydrogen turbofan engines provide the necessary thrust. 

• A Turboprop concept for which the thrust is produced by two hybrid hydrogen turboprop engines driving the six-bladed propellers.

• A Blended-Wing Body (BWB) concept which features an exceptionally wide interior, thereby opening up multiple options for hydrogen storage and distribution. Like the turbofan aircraft, two hybrid hydrogen turbofan engines provide thrust.

Over the next five years, Airbus and its industrial partners aim at developing the required hydrogen technology in order to launch full-scale prototypes and a “real” aircraft programme by the second half of the decade while the targeted entry-into-service date for ZEROe is set for 2035.

With this project, Airbus is pioneering and leading the way towards a decarbonized aviation with a zero emission future. 

But today, Airbus already offers the most eco-efficient aircraft family. 

From the A220 to the A350, Airbus aircraft provide a 25 percent CO2 emissions reduction compared to previous generation aircraft, having already contributed to an 80 percent reduction since the dawn of the jet age.

Click here to watch a video of the three concept aircraft. 

Airbus ZEROe Turbofan concept

Airbus ZEROe Turboprop concept

Airbus ZEROe Blended Wing Body concept

For more information, please contact: 
Damien Sternchuss
HO Airline Marketing Latin America & Caribbean
damien.sternchuss@airbus.com