Stockholm (TAN): An eco-friendly commercial aircraft could become a reality in the not-so-distant future.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Airbus have signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding for hybrid and electric aircraft eco-system and infrastructure requirements research. This is a unique cooperation to establish the requirements for the next generation of sustainable aircraft, the airline said in a statement.
The project aims to gain an understanding of the introduction of hybrid-electric aircraft for large-scale commercial use.
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The partnership involves a joint research project where SAS and Airbus will work together to build knowledge of the opportunities and challenges regarding operations and infrastructure linked to large scale introduction of hybrid and electric aircraft in commercial traffic.
“We are proud of our ambitious sustainability work and are now pleased that Airbus has chosen SAS to partner up with us for this future project. If this becomes a reality, it will revolutionize emissions,” SAS CEO Rickard Gustafson said.
SAS’s goal is to reduce emissions by 25 per cent by 2030, mainly by modernizing the fleet and increasing the use of biofuels. We see electric aircraft as the next step beyond the current technology.
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“We are delighted to be embarking on this partnership with SAS,” said Grazia Vittadini, Airbus chief technology officer. “Leveraging our respective expertise to explore the potential of hybrid-electric propulsion opportunities in our aviation eco-system.”
The collaboration also includes an ambition to involve a renewable energy supplier to ensure genuine zero emissions operations.
