Airbus and MTU Establish Joint Venture for Hydrogen Propulsion Systems

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus and engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines have announced plans to further expand their collaboration in the field of hydrogen-based aviation technologies. To this end, the two companies intend to establish a joint venture focused on the development and marketing of all-electric hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems for civil aviation.

This deepening of the cooperation builds upon the Memorandum of Understanding signed at the Paris Air Show in June 2025. The goal is to develop the first hydrogen-based fuel cell propulsion systems for commercial aircraft to market maturity, thus taking a significant step towards emission-free aviation. Furthermore, Airbus and MTU plan to jointly advance the development of a hydrogen infrastructure for aviation and the establishment of suitable regulatory frameworks.

Bruno Fichefeux, Head of Future Programs at Airbus, emphasized that the establishment of the joint venture will combine the expertise of both companies. This will create a European center of excellence that will develop cutting-edge technologies in the field of hydrogen-based electric drive systems and bring them to industrial maturity and certification.