Airbus sets sights on Scandinavian H2 flight network

The project follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Airbus with Norway and Sweden’s respective airport operators Avinor and Swedavia, as well as Scandinavian flag-carrier airline SAS and Swedish energy giant Vattenfall. According to the partners, the aim of the collaboration is to develop the hydrogen aviation ecosystem across both countries, gaining knowledge around H2 aircraft concepts as well as operational, infrastructure and refuelling needs.

“Hydrogen stands out as a key enabler as we pioneer a sustainable aviation future,” Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said in a statement. “Norway and Sweden are among the most demanding regions for aviation and have great potential for hydrogen production from renewable energy sources. I am very pleased to enter into this cooperation with partners fully engaged to take significant steps towards decarbonising aerospace. It fits perfectly with our strategy of deploying hydrogen aviation ecosystems in the most suitable parts of the world.”

In 2020, Airbus announced it was targeting the introduction of commercial hydrogen aircraft by 2035. Its ZEROe project features three design concepts: an H2 turbofan aimed at the 2,000 nautical miles, the 120–200 passenger segment; a smaller turboprop concept catering for flights of around 1,000 nautical miles; and a futuristic blended-wing aircraft that points to a hydrogen-powered future where airframe design could look radically different.