KUALA LUMPUR: European multinational aircraft manufacturer Airbus has revealed three zero-emission aircraft concepts that could enter service by 2035.
Airbus chief executive officer Guillaume Faury said the hydrogen-powered aircraft, all codenamed “ZEROe”, was likely to be a solution for the aerospace industry to meet climate-neutral targets.
“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,” he said in a statement today.
Faury, however, said the transition to hydrogen required decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem.
“Together with the support from the government and industrial partners, we can rise to this challenge to scale up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of the aviation industry,” he said.
In order to tackle these challenges, he said airports would need significant hydrogen transport and refuelling infrastructure to meet day-to-day operational demand.
“Support from governments is key to meet these ambitious objectives with increased funding required for research and technology, digitalisation, and mechanisms that encourage the use of sustainable fuels,” said Faury.
This would help the renewal of aircraft fleets to allow airlines to retire older, less eco-friendly aircraft earlier, he added.
The three concepts could lead to the production of the world’s first zero-emission aircraft. -Bernama
