Delta and Airbus Collaborate on Hydrogen Flight Goals

Delta Airlines and Airbus will work together for hydrogen flight ambitions. It is the first US-based airline to collaborate with Airbus to develop hydrogen-powered aircraft to achieve net-zero aims in its flight operations.

The partnership will focus on decarbonised flights and the ecosystem needed to support the shift to greener energy.

Delta Airlines stated that it would identify fleet, network operations, operational and infrastructure requirements needed to develop commercial aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel.

Pam Fletcher, Chief Sustainability Officer at Delta, said, “To pull the future of sustainable aviation forward, we need to accelerate the development and commercialisation of potentially disruptive technologies. Hydrogen fuel is an exciting concept that has the potential to redefine the status quo. These tangible steps lay the groundwork for the next generation of aviation.”

The airlines are working to receive the first commercial hydrogen-powered flights by 2030.

Julie Kitcher, Airbus Executive Vice-President of Communications and Corporate Affairs at Airbus, added, “To decarbonise aviation, we need to develop the right technology bricks and a dynamic hydrogen ecosystem. Through close collaboration with key partners, such as Delta, we will integrate our customers’ expertise and specific needs to ensure our zero-emission aircraft will be a game-changer for sustainable aerospace.”