Airbus highlighted its sustainability efforts in the Asia-Pacific region as the European aircraft maker looks to lead the industry on the path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Addressing reporters at a briefing during the Singapore Airshow, Airbus chief sustainability officer Julie Kitcher stressed the importance of industry and government collaboration while laying out the company’s pathway to decarbonization.
“Fuel-efficient aircraft, improvements to air traffic management and operations, and sustainable aviation fuel will combine to provide most of the initial reductions before 2050,” said Kitcher. “In the short- to medium-term, carbon offsetting will play a role, starting with nature-based solutions and progressing to technology-based solutions. Hydrogen will transform aviation over the long-term.”
Airbus has set an ambitious target to bring to market the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035. The manufacturer is currently studying the use of hydrogen fuel cells with a propeller propulsion system, which would generate nearly zero emissions.
“Two months ago, the hydrogen fuel cells were successfully paired for the first time with the electrical propulsion system that will drive the propellers of our demonstrator aircraft,” said Kitcher. “This is the aircraft that will be used to test the viability of our designs and our technology both on the ground and in the air. Over the next couple of years, we will make important decisions about the aircraft’s design and propulsion architecture.”
Airbus is also laying the groundwork to establish a green hydrogen production and distribution network in the Asia-Pacific region, Kitcher added.
“We have been examining the possibility of having a hydrogen fuel hub here in Singapore, and the results of that outcome will be shared soon,” she said.
Airbus used 11 million liters of a 10-percent SAF blend for its operations and customer deliveries in 2023, and this year the manufacturer aims to achieve an average of 15 percent SAF in its fuel mix. By the end of the decade, Airbus hopes to achieve 100 percent SAF capabilities. Despite the ambitions, Kitcher acknowledged that the cost and availability of SAF remain a challenge. Still, progress is being made across the Asia-Pacific region, including in Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand.
To accelerate advancements, Airbus is collaborating with key partners in the region, such as Singapore-based Apeiron Bioenergy, a provider of bioenergy products from waste-based feedstock to the end and by-products. Apeiron is present in 10 countries and offers an extensive value chain, featuring storage, processing facilities, and biofuel refineries.
Airbus remains active in the Asia-Pacific region, working with Tan Son Nhat International Airport in southeastern Vietnam and Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on sustainability initiatives. In Australia, its partners include flag carrier Qantas Airways, SAF bio-energy company Jet Zero Australia, the Queensland government, and sustainable fuel technology company LanzaJet.