Airbus, Air Liquide and VINCI Airports Announce a Partnership to Promote the Use of Hydrogen and Accelerate the Decarbonization of the Aviation Sector

Rhea-AI Summary

Airbus, Air Liquide, and VINCI Airports announced a partnership to promote hydrogen usage at airports, starting with Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport. Initial installations will begin in 2023 with a hydrogen gas distribution station supporting ground vehicles. The project outlines phases leading to liquid hydrogen infrastructure by 2030. The collaboration aims to accelerate decarbonization in aviation, leveraging Airbus’s expertise in aircraft, Air Liquide’s hydrogen value chain mastery, and VINCI Airports' operational reach across 45 airports.

Positive

• Partnership reflects a strategic commitment to decarbonizing air travel.
• Initial hydrogen gas distribution station at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport to support ground vehicles.
• Future deployment of liquid hydrogen infrastructure could enhance operational capabilities.

Negative

• None.

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Airbus, Air Liquide (Paris:AI) and VINCI Airports, three major players in the aviation, hydrogen and airport industries, are working together to promote the use of hydrogen at airports and build the European airport network to accommodate future hydrogen aircrafts. The airport of Lyon-Saint Exupéry (France) will host the first installations as early as 2023. This partnership reflects the three groups' shared ambition to combine their respective expertise to support the decarbonization of air travel.

Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (VINCI Airports' center of excellence for innovation) has been chosen as the pilot airport by the partners. The implementation of this project includes several phases:

• From 2023: deployment of a hydrogen gas distribution station at Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport. This station will supply both the airport's ground vehicles (airside buses, trucks, handling equipment, etc.) and those of its partners, as well as the heavy goods vehicles that drive around the airport. This first phase is essential to test the airport's facilities and dynamics as a "hydrogen hub" in its area of reach.
• Between 2023 and 2030: deployment of liquid hydrogen infrastructures that will allow hydrogen to be provisioned into the tanks of future aircraft.
• Beyond 2030: deployment of the hydrogen infrastructure from production to mass distribution of liquid hydrogen at the airport.

By 2030, the three partners will study the possibility of equipping VINCI Airports' European airport network with the hydrogen production, storage and supply facilities needed for use on the ground and on board aircraft.

This partnership illustrates the partners' shared commitment to decarbonizing air travel and is a major step forward for the development of hydrogen across the airport ecosystem. It relies on the know-how of Airbus in commercial aircraft, on Air Liquide's expertise in mastering the entire hydrogen value chain (production, liquefaction, storage and distribution) and on the global reach of VINCI Airports, the leading private airport operator with 45 airports in 12 countries, which will help create the desired network.

About Airbus

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world’s leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide. More information on airbus.com and on Twitter: @Airbus & @AirbusPress

About Air Liquide

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 78 countries with approximately 64,500 employees and serves more than 3.8 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902.

Air Liquide’s ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long-term performance and contribute to sustainability - with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at the heart of its strategy. The company’s customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.

Air Liquide’s revenue amounted to more than 20 billion euros in 2020. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes.

More information on: www.airliquide.com and on Twitter: @airliquidegroup

About VINCI Airports

VINCI Airports, the leading private airport operator in the world, manages 45 airports in 12 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. We harness our expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports, while leveraging our investment capability and expertise in optimising operational performance, modernising infrastructure and driving environmental transition. First airport operator to adopt an international environmental strategy, in 2016, VINCI Airports aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050 for all its infrastructure and by 2026 for Lyon-Saint Exupéry. VINCI Airports also supports airline companies working to reduce their own emissions and already proposes concrete solutions such as sustainable biofuels at the Clermont-Ferrand airport. Lastly, VINCI Airports is acting in partnership with several industrial leaders to develop innovations around zero-emission aircraft.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210920005997/en/

AIR LIQUIDE

Corporate Communications

media@airliquide.com

Investor Relations

IRTeam@airliquide.com

AIRBUS

Media

Matthieu Duvelleroy

+33 6 29 43 15 64

matthieu.duvelleroy@airbus.com

VINCI Airports

Press

+33(0)1 47 16 32 32

communication@vinci-airports.com

Source: Air Liquide

FAQ

What is the focus of the Airbus, Air Liquide, and VINCI Airports partnership?

The partnership aims to promote the use of hydrogen at airports and develop the infrastructure needed for hydrogen aircraft.

When will the hydrogen gas distribution station be operational at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport?

The hydrogen gas distribution station is expected to be deployed starting in 2023.

What are the future plans for hydrogen infrastructure by 2030?

By 2030, the partners plan to establish liquid hydrogen infrastructures for future aircraft.

How does the partnership contribute to decarbonization in aviation?

The partnership aims to decarbonize air travel by developing necessary hydrogen infrastructure and promoting sustainable practices.

What role does Air Liquide play in the hydrogen infrastructure project?

Air Liquide will leverage its expertise in the hydrogen value chain, including production, storage, and distribution.