Airbus and the Real Future of Green Aviation

Airbus has long positioned itself as a leader in the race to decarbonize air travel. But, to no one’s surprise, we’re beginning to see that flying green isn’t that simple. Airbus is now refining its eco-friendly game plan, which means some things (like hydrogen jets) won’t happen as soon as hoped, while other technologies (like hydrogen fuel cells and sustainable fuel) are stepping into the spotlight.

In typical Airbus fashion, there’s a lot to unpack here. So, what’s changing and why does it matter?

A few years ago, Airbus made headlines with its ZEROe concept aircraft and bold claims of putting a hydrogen-powered airliner into service by 2035. As of April 2025, Airbus has officially delayed its goal of launching the first zero-emission hydrogen airliner to the 2040s.

The delay comes down to slow progress on hydrogen technology and infrastructure. Despite investing over $1.7 billion in hydrogen and exploring multiple concept designs, Airbus admits the pieces just aren’t falling into place fast enough.

The project isn’t being shelved. Hydrogen flight is still coming; it will just be delayed until the tech and infrastructure catch up. As Bruno Fichefeux, Airbus’s head of future programs, put it:

“Hydrogen is at the heart of our commitment to decarbonise aviation… While we’ve adjusted our roadmap, our dedication to hydrogen-powered flight is unwavering.”

Instead of burning hydrogen in jet engines, Airbus is now prioritizing hydrogen fuel-cell technology, using hydrogen to generate electricity that powers electric motors. This approach produces zero in-flight emissions and is seen as the most viable path for future hydrogen aircraft.

The goal is a short-to-medium-range airliner that could carry over 100 passengers, but entry into service is unlikely before the late 2030s or 2040s. In the meantime, Airbus is also exploring smaller fuel-cell aircraft that could debut sooner.

This is a more realistic strategy. Fuel-cell tech has fewer hurdles than hydrogen combustion and opens the door to spin-off advances in electric propulsion (generation of force). This is different from Boeing’s approach, as Boeing remains skeptical of hydrogen’s success and is focusing on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and electric taxis.

Airbus is still betting on hydrogen, but is now concentrating on the version of the technology that’s actually within reach.

While hydrogen remains a long-term goal, Airbus is developing a more immediate solution: a next-generation single-aisle jet designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel
(SAF). Expected to enter service in the late 2030s, this aircraft would replace the A320 family.

Airbus is targeting 20–30% better fuel efficiency compared to today’s jets, using advanced materials, next-gen engines, and possibly hybrid-electric systems. Concept images show a futuristic aircraft with open-rotor engines and longer wings, all aimed at slashing emissions.

SAF is simply available sooner than hydrogen models, and a new plane designed to run on 100% SAF would represent a major emissions cut while hydrogen technology continues to be tested.

Airbus is also expanding its environmental focus beyond just carbon dioxide, which is what everyone thinks about. The company is investing in research to understand and reduce non-CO₂ emissions, like contrails and nitrogen oxides, which trap heat in the atmosphere.

To address this, Airbus is leading two major studies: PACIFIC in Europe and CRYSTAL in Canada. These projects aim to understand how different fuels (especially SAF) affect contrail formation and to develop strategies to reduce them, such as adjusting fuel blends or flight altitudes. Early data shows SAF could reduce contrail-related warming, adding another benefit to its use.

This work shows Airbus is looking beyond just new aircraft and toward smarter operations, making practical changes that could reduce aviation’s climate footprint even before next-gen planes take off.

One of the biggest roadblocks to SAF adoption is availability. Not every airport has it, and not all airlines can access it. Airbus’s solution: a “book-and-claim” system.

This lets airlines buy SAF credits even if the fuel is delivered somewhere else. Think of it like paying for green energy, even if your power line still delivers regular electricity.

The goal is to make SAF investments more accessible, especially for operators who don’t have direct access to SAF but want to reduce their emissions footprint.

As of now, there has not been an official statement from Airbus on how this affects pricing, but it's safe to say the cost of these planes will be significantly higher. Now, it really depends on how airlines, which purchase these planes, plan on accounting for it.

Airlines could simply charge more for these flights to try and offset the margin that they're purchasing at, but that won't go over well. We know that in a competitive market like the airline industry, pricing flights higher (for whatever reason) will result in losing customers. If you’re choosing between two flights with essentially the same onboard experience, 95% of people will go with the cheaper option.

This isn't because we hate the environment, but rather, price outweighs people's willingness to make a “difference”. I mean, just about every airline has an option to pay to “offset your carbon footprint”. I did it the first few times it was offered because I liked the idea of it, but soon I got a little sick of paying $150 more when I could just skip it. Most consumers feel the same way, so unless airlines take the initiative here and foot the more expensive bill, I doubt this will be enough motivation to fly greener.

The best course of action would be if the government subsidizes the purchase of these greener aircraft. That way, airlines won't be forced to price flights higher, and consumers will stay happy.

I could see some airlines going completely green, SAF now, and hydrogen in the future, so that prices will at least stay consistent throughout. But for the next 15 years, it will be hard for people to select a more expensive flight just because it's greener. If that were the case, only the newest planes would be flying today. And while airlines know they’re more efficient, older aircraft like the 747 are still in service, even though everyone knows they burn way more fuel.

Airbus is no longer promising a hydrogen plane by 2035, but it’s not walking away from green aviation either. Instead, the company is recalibrating. Hydrogen remains part of the long-term goal, but in the meantime, Airbus is focusing on technologies that can deliver emissions cuts sooner.

Airbus is betting that by the late 2030s, flying can be far greener than today. Whether through SAF or eventually hydrogen, that’s a future worth aiming for.