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

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.