Aerospace firm Airbus and industrial gases and engineering company Linde have partnered to develop hydrogen infrastructure at airports across the globe.

Beginning next year, the two companies aim to launch pilot projects at several airports.

Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the firms, the duo will evaluate the potential of Power-to-Liquid fuels, which are a type of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

The fuel is created using synthetically produced liquid hydrocarbon and renewable electricity conversion.

Airbus chief technical officer Sabine Klauke said: “We are advancing well with hydrogen as an important technology pathway to achieve our ambition of bringing a zero-emission commercial aircraft to market by 2035.

“Building the infrastructure is just as crucial. That’s why we are working closely with partners like Linde, who have decades of experience and expertise worldwide in the storage and distribution of hydrogen.”

The MoU includes an alliance on global hydrogen supply chains, ranging from production to airport storage.

It builds on a cooperation agreement reached in Singapore in February.

Both companies believe that the use of hydrogen will lower aircraft emissions in the air, as well as help to decarbonise air transport activities on the ground.

Linde Clean Energy vice-president Philippe Peccard said: “We are pleased to expand our successful collaboration with Airbus to a global scope.

“By harnessing both companies’ competencies we are well-positioned to collaborate with airports and government authorities in the development of viable concepts for sustainable airport hubs based on hydrogen.”

Separately, Airbus has collaborated with ACI EUROPE on new aircraft energy ecosystems.

The two companies have reached a Memorandum of Cooperation that is aimed at facilitating wider SAF adoption.

The partnership intends to build a hydrogen ecosystem for zero-emissions aircraft solutions, as well as prepare supporting airport infrastructure.