Airbus launches 3 hydrogen feasibility studies

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of several major airports in North America where Airbus is conducting feasibility studies for hydrogen infrastructure.

As Airbus presses ahead with ambitious plans to bring hydrogen-powered airliners into commercial service through its ZeroE program, the aircraft manufacturer is eyeing several major airports in North America as locations for potential “hydrogen hubs.”

The company announced it is launching three studies into the feasibility of establishing hydrogen hubs at some of the biggest airports in the U.S. and Canada, including George Bush Intercontinental Airport (KIAH) in Houston and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International airport (KATL)—the world’s busiest airport.

While the research projects focus on a handful of specific airports, the results will help to guide the future development of hydrogen hubs around the world, according to Airbus. These proactive studies “mark a significant milestone in our pursuit of low-carbon aviation,” said Karine Guenan, head of ecosystem activities for Airbus’s ZeroE program, which aims to bring a 200-seat hydrogen-powered airliner with a 2,000-nm range into commercial service in 2035.

For the research it is conducting at KATL, Airbus has partnered with Delta Air Lines—whose main hub is located at the airport—and hydrogen fuel specialist Plug Power. The team has already begun preliminary work to define the infrastructure requirements for a hydrogen hub and to determine the operational viability of hydrogen operations at KATL. They expect to complete the study at the end of 2026.

Delta Air Lines is already a partner in Airbus’s ZeroE program. As part of an agreement signed in 2022, the airline is helping to identify fleet and network expectations and the operational and infrastructure requirements for hydrogen-powered airliners.

Plug Power, which is based in New York and operates more than 250 hydrogen refueling stations around the world, recently opened a hydrogen production plant in Woodbine, Georgia that could potentially supply the fuel to KATL.

In addition to hydrogen storage and transportation, Plug Power also offers hydrogen fuel cells for aircraft and ground vehicles. Universal Hydrogen, a company developing hydrogen fuel cell powertrains for aircraft retrofits, has already flown its experimental Dash 8 twin turboprop using Plug Power’s ProGen family of fuel cells.

Meanwhile, Houston Airports and the Center for Houston’s Future in Texas have signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to explore the possibility of a hydrogen hub at KIAH as part of broader plans to reduce the airport’s carbon footprint.

This study will examine “the opportunities and, if any, barriers to the hydrogen supply up to the airport, the infrastructure and equipment development,” Guenan explained, adding that the team will look into other potential uses for hydrogen at airports. For example, ground vehicles and other ground support equipment could be converted to hydrogen power. Hydrogen could also be used for heating at airport facilities, according to Airbus.

To explore possible hydrogen hubs at airports in Canada, Airbus enlisted the country’s three busiest airports—Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (CYUL), Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ), and Vancouver International Airport (CYVR)—along with hydrogen propulsion specialist ZeroAvia for a large-scale feasibility study.

Airbus signed memoranda of understanding with those three airports as well as ZeroAvia during the International Aerospace Innovation Forum in Montréal on May 21. This marks the first time that Airbus has formally partnered with another manufacturer of hydrogen propulsion systems for aircraft, according to Guenan. Airbus also invested in ZeroAvia last year.

With its abundance of natural resources, “Canada has great potential for hydrogen production from renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric power,” Guenan said. “These first Canadian hydrogen partnerships enable us to cover the country from coast to coast.”

Airbus recently announced that it is leading a European Union-backed project called Ground Operations of Liquid Hydrogen Aircraft to demonstrate how handling and refueling technologies can be developed for airport operations. The work also involves hydrogen propulsion pioneer H2Fly and eight other partners.