Airbus taps Delta in drive to develop hydrogen-powered plane

CHICAGO, March 17 (Reuters) – Carrier Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) will help planemaker Airbus (AIR.PA) in its effort to develop a hydrogen-powered passenger airplane, the companies said on Thursday.

Delta is the first U.S.-based airline the European planemaker is partnering with for hydrogen aircraft. Atlanta-based Delta said the partnership does not entail any financial investment on its part.

Airbus has plans to produce a small “ZEROe” passenger aircraft powered by hydrogen to enter service in 2035, and wants to get feedback from customers while the new aircraft is being developed, Amanda Simpson, vice president for research and technology at Airbus, said in an interview.

“We’re in…the pre-product development phase, where we’re trying to understand clearly what is the realm of the possible – what is going to work,” Simpson told Reuters.

Last month, Airbus said it would build a demonstrator to test propulsion technology for hydrogen airplanes in co-operation with French-U.S. engine maker CFM International. read more