Aviation

Airbus invests in world’s largest clean hydrogen infrastructure fund managed by Hy24

Airbus has joined the world’s largest clean hydrogen infrastructure investment fund, managed by #Hy24 – a joint venture between Ardian, a world-leading private investment house and FiveTHydrogen

Airbus has joined the world’s largest clean hydrogen infrastructure investment fund, managed by Hy24 – a joint venture between Ardian, a world-leading private investment house and FiveTHydrogen, an investment manager specializing in clean hydrogen investments.

The investment fund of Hy24 will offer money to support reliable, sizable green hydrogen infrastructure projects all around the world. By getting involved, Airbus demonstrates its dedication to accelerating the global hydrogen economy, which is necessary for the successful introduction of its zero-emission commercial aircraft by 2035.

According to Karine Guenan, VP ZEROe Ecosystem at Airbus, “Since 2020, Airbus has collaborated with various airlines, airports, energy companies, and industry partners to establish a phased approach to the availability of hydrogen globally. “Airbus’ participation in a fund of this size reflects the company’s ongoing involvement in infrastructure investments for the production, storage, and global delivery of clean hydrogen.

Along with other significant business and financial investors, Airbus has joined the fund, according to Pierre-Etienne Franc, CEO of Hy24. “In order to address the needs of the present while ensuring the transportation and logistics of the future, Hy24 is in a good position to discover and accelerate the development of clean-hydrogen infrastructure companies.

A significant number of conditions must be completed when the aviation sector makes the transition to reach its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050. Investing in these funds grants free access to the direct collaborations influencing the new energy ecosystems.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.