Airbus and MTU Aero Engines plan to deepen their collaboration by creating a joint venture focused on developing and commercialising a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell engine for aviation, the companies said on July 7, 2026.
The planned joint venture follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two companies at the Paris Air Show in June 2025. The companies said the new entity would provide a dedicated and agile organisational structure to accelerate technology development, design, testing and certification of a hydrogen fuel cell-based propulsion system for aircraft.
Airbus and MTU will support the venture with their technical expertise and engineering and manufacturing teams. The non-binding agreement remains subject to standard regulatory approvals and the completion of social processes at European and national levels. The joint venture is expected to begin operations in 2027.
“Our planned joint venture is the next logical step in our shared vision of a hydrogen-based propulsion concept for aviation,” said Bruno Fichefeux, head of future programmes at Airbus. He said the new company would combine the companies’ technologies and expertise to help turn advanced research into industrialised and certifiable electric propulsion systems.
The companies said hydrogen could play a significant long-term role in reducing aviation’s climate impact and transforming air transport, in a way comparable to the impact of electric vehicles in the automotive industry.
The proposed joint venture aims to become a technology leader in hydrogen-based fuel cell propulsion and provide the first such propulsion system for a commercial aircraft. It will combine Airbus’ commercial aircraft programme knowledge and expertise in fuel cell propulsion and liquid hydrogen with MTU’s experience in fuel cell technology, engine design, integration, validation, certification and maintenance.
Airbus and MTU said they will also continue supporting the development of a hydrogen aviation economy and the related regulatory framework, which they described as essential for enabling hydrogen-powered flight at scale.
