Climate Adaptation
Airbus Turboprop Model Gaining Favor as First Hydrogen Plane
- Smallest aircraft option seen as easiest to pull off by 2035
- Aircraft seating 100 would have less capacity, range than A320
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A turboprop design is gaining momentum within Airbus SE as the solution to its challenge of developing a hydrogen jet by 2035, according to people familiar with the matter.
The propeller plane would carry around 100 passengers for about 1,000 nautical miles -- roughly the distance between Rome and Dublin. It’s seen as the option most capable of meeting Airbus’ aggressive goal of introducing a zero-emission plane by the middle of the next decade, said the people, who asked not to be named because a formal decision is still several years away.