Hybrid, electric aircraft research

Airbus and SAS Scandinavian Airlines are jointly studying how large-scale introduction of hybrid and full-electric propulsion aircraft will impact airline operations. The project includes five work packages that analyze how ground infrastructure and charging affect range, resources, time, and availability at airports. The collaboration will continue until the end of 2020.

The companies also plan to include a renewable energy supplier to ensure zero CO₂ emission operations. The multidisciplinary approach – from energy to infrastructure – aims to address the entire aircraft operations ecosystem to better support aviation’s transition to sustainable energy.

To reduce aviation’s impact on the environment, the Global Aviation Industry (ATAG) has committed to achieving carbon-neutral growth for the aviation industry by cutting aviation’s net emissions by 50% by 2050 (compared to 2005).

Airbus has already started to build technology demonstrators and is currently testing hybrid propulsion systems, subsystems, and components to address long-term efficiency goals for building and operating electric aircraft.