Summary

  • Airbus partners with ATL, Delta, and Plug Power to study the feasibility of hydrogen as a future aircraft fuel option at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
  • The study will conclude in 2026 and will assess infrastructure, operational viability, and security requirements for a potential hydrogen-based hub at ATL.
  • Airbus is working with other airports as well to understand hydrogen supply needs.

With the aviation industry looking for alternatives to traditional fuel, Airbus is partnering with some airports to study the possibility of hydrogen becoming a viable future option. It recently joined forces with the world’s busiest airport—Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—along with Delta Air Lines and Plug Power to conduct a study regarding this.

Airbus partners with Atlanta airport

Airbus will study the feasibility of hydrogen powering future aircraft in its attempt to find cleaner fuels to eliminate aircraft CO2 emissions. To do this, it has partnered with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Delta Air Lines, and Plug Power, a leading provider of equipment and end-to-end, turnkey solutions for the global green hydrogen economy.

The study will assess the possibility of having a hydrogen-based hub at ATL. It was preliminarily launched earlier this year and will look into the infrastructure, operational viability, and safety and security requirements needed to implement hydrogen as a potential fuel source for future aircraft operations at ATL.

Hydrogen hub at ATL

Photo: Airbus

This partnership also aims to understand the supply and infrastructure requirements for hydrogen hubs at airports worldwide. Karine Guénan, Airbus’ Vice President ZEROe Ecosystem, commented,

“The U.S. has easy and massive access to additional renewable energies to produce green hydrogen, and airports are looking for a diverse and balanced energy mix to be more resilient and help reduce the impact of aviation on the environment. Hydrogen is a key enabler for this. The journey to prepare airport infrastructure to support hydrogen and low carbon aviation begins on the ground with pre-feasibility studies like this one, working with pioneer players like Delta, Plug and the world’s busiest airport.”

Scheduled for completion in 2026

The study will be carried out for the next two years and will conclude at the end of 2026. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will provide the current airport layout plan and organization and will share updates on future developments and findings. If hydrogen is found to be a viable fuel alternative, ATL will look into options to update infrastructure needs to implement the new technology.

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

Delta has been a partner in the Airbus ZEROe program for a couple of years now, and this study will further its commitment to solving industry sustainability challenges. Plug Power will also play a crucial role as it is building an end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem, including the manufacture of electrolyzers, fuel cells, and hydrogen facilities across the United States to decarbonize a variety of industries.

Related

Airbus Leading European Hydrogen Refueling Project

A consortium of European aerospace organizations has come together to design and develop systems and standards for airport hydrogen fuel use.

Other airport partners

ATL is one of several airports that Airbus has announced partnerships with this month to study the possibility of setting up hydrogen hubs. In Canada, Airbus and ZeroAvia have signed three respective Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the country’s three busiest airports: Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), and Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

Hydrogen hub in Canada

Photo: Airbus

In the US, the European plane maker has also partnered with Houston Airports and the Center for Houston’s Future (CHF), signing an MoU to study the feasibility of a hydrogen hub at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

Related

Air New Zealand Wants To Pioneer Green Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft

Air New Zealnd is working with partners on multiple zero-emission technologies with a green hydrogen project currently underway in Wellington

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  • rsz_airbus_50th_years_anniversary_formation_flight_-_air_to_air

    Airbus

    Stock Code:
    AIR

    Date Founded:
    1970-12-18

    CEO:
    Guillaume Faury

    Headquarters Location:
    Toulouse, France

    Key Product Lines:
    Airbus A220, Airbus A320, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Airbus A350, Airbus A380

    Business Type:
    Planemaker

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