FutureFlight
Delta Air Lines Agrees to Back Airbus Plans For Hydrogen-powered Airliners
Under a memorandum of understanding, Delta Air Lines will participate in Airbus-lead research and development work aimed at getting a hydrogen-powered airliner into service in 2035.
Airbus is assessing three hydrogen-powered airliner concepts under its ZeroE project.
Several international airlines, now including Delta of the U.S., are backing Airbus's plans to bring a hydrogen-powered airliner into commercial service from 2035. (Image: Airbus)

Delta Air Lines and Airbus have signed a memorandum of understanding calling for collaboration on the research and development of hydrogen-powered aircraft and the related infrastructure “ecosystem,” the Atlanta-based airline said on March 17.

Part of the carrier's Flight to Net Zero plan to scale and advance sustainable technologies, the agreement makes Delta the first U.S. airline to partner with Airbus on the European aerospace group's Zero E program to develop a hydrogen-powered, narrowbody-class airliner scheduled to enter service in 2035. Airbus has already signed agreements with three other airlines—European budget carrier EasyJet, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, and Air New Zealand—to study infrastructure needs for future hydrogen-powered aircraft.