Airbus and MTU Launch Hydrogen Propulsion Venture

Airbus and MTU Aero Engines have established a joint venture dedicated to the development and commercialization of a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell engine. The project—expected to start operations in 2027—aims to “cover the entire life cycle of fuel cell powertrains, from development and testing through certification to commercialization,” MTU announced this week.

According to Airbus, the joint venture intends to deliver the first hydrogen-based fuel cell propulsion system for a commercial airliner. It builds upon an agreement signed in June 2025, in which the parties explained that “joint efforts in the years to come are the first step in paving the way for a potential product development in the future.”

The new direction follows an April 2025 announcement in which Airbus announced it was revising its roadmap for hydrogen propulsion: no longer expecting a clean-sheet single-aisle aircraft to enter service in 2035. At the time, Airbus Head of Future Programmes Bruno Fichefeux explained while Airbus had adjusted its roadmap, its “dedication to hydrogen-powered flight is unwavering.” Alongside a timeline revision, Airbus also suggested it had shifted its focus to fuel cell-based propulsion systems, rather than hydrogen combustion engines.

The alliance with Germany-based MTU builds upon Airbus’ own ZeroE work, launched in 2020, which initially explored the feasibility of three aircraft designs. These included a turbofan, turboprop, and blended wing body concept. However, in 2025, ZeroE decided that the fuel-cell powered concept was most suitable for ongoing development work.