Boeing and Airbus: A Stark Contrast on Hydrogen

Boeing acknowledges hydrogen’s potential, while Airbus plans a hydrogen-fueled airliner by 2035.

Thom Patterson

Tuesday, July 05, 2022 at 02:19 PM ET

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Boeing has committed that its commercial airplanes will be capable of burning 100 percent SAF by 2030. [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing's sustainability strategy primarily emphasizes improved efficiency and the widespread adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), aiming for all commercial airplanes to be 100% SAF-capable by 2030.
In stark contrast to Airbus's aggressive plans for hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035, Boeing's report provides limited specific details on its long-term vision for hydrogen as an alternative fuel for commercial aviation.
While Boeing acknowledges ongoing research in hydrogen, including cryogenic fuel tank technology, it expresses a cautious stance, viewing SAF as the most measurable solution for the next 20 to 30 years and not yet convinced hydrogen is "the answer" for commercial aircraft.

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Boeing’s new sustainability report talks a lot about improved efficiency and the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), but—while Airbus is aggressively researching hydrogen fuel technologies—the Boeing report doesn’t include many details about its vision for using hydrogen as an alternative fuel.

The report stands in stark contrast to Airbus’s announcement last February—in partnership with GE Aviation and CFM International—to “flight test a direct combustion engine fueled by hydrogen in preparation for entry into service of a zero-emission aircraft by 2035.”