Boeing and Airbus Hit Pause on Flagship Green Aircraft Projects

NASA and Boeing unveiled the new X-66A livery at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. (Image: Boeing)

In a major setback for aviation’s path to net-zero, Boeing and Airbus have paused their most ambitious green aircraft development projects, casting doubt on the industry’s ability to meet its 2050 climate goals. Boeing’s X-66A project—an experimental aircraft designed in partnership with NASA to cut emissions by up to 10%—was suspended four months ago. The aircraft, a retrofitted MD-90, was pulled from desert storage and modified with ultra-thin wings and a deeper fuselage before work was abruptly halted.

Similarly, Airbus put its ZEROe hydrogen-powered plane on hold in February, citing delays in the development of key enablers such as large-scale hydrogen production from renewable sources. The ZEROe project was once envisioned as a groundbreaking step toward zero-emissions commercial aviation by 2035.

These delays are raising alarm bells across the aviation industry, which is under increasing scrutiny to reduce its environmental impact. Aviation currently contributes around 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions, a figure expected to rise as other sectors decarbonize more rapidly. In the UK, aviation already accounts for 9% of emissions, projected to grow to 16% by 2035.

With electric and hydrogen propulsion technologies progressing slower than expected, the industry is now relying heavily on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Yet SAF accounted for just 0.53% of total aviation fuel used globally last year. Reaching net zero would require building 5,000 SAF refineries at a cost of $1.45 trillion, according to the Air Transport Action Group.

Analysts warn that Airbus and Boeing’s cautious investment approach, driven by past cost overruns and Boeing’s current financial constraints, could open the door for new entrants like China’s Comac or California-based JetZero, which is developing a radical blended-wing body aircraft.

As global air travel rebounds and emissions climb, the aviation industry’s net-zero by 2050 target is looking increasingly out of reach—unless alternative fuels scale rapidly or manufacturers take bolder steps.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, boeing.com, airbus.com