Airbus and MTU Aero Engines are to establish a joint venture dedicated to developing and commercializing a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell engine for commercial aircraft.

The new entity will lead the development, design, testing and certification of a propulsion system based on a hydrogen fuel cell, drawing on engineering and manufacturing teams from both companies. The partners aim to accelerate the program through a dedicated, agile organization.

The plan builds on an agreement the two companies signed at the Paris Air Show in June 2025, which set out a three-step roadmap toward a hydrogen fuel cell engine for the commercial market. The venture is a non-binding agreement, subject to regulatory approvals, with operations expected to begin in 2027.