Confirming a strong commitment to hydrogen on Monday (Feb 14), the Milano Linate and Milano Malpensa airports said they will level up and prepare for a new generation of aircraft by looking at the implementation of hydrogen distribution sites.

With support from Airbus, the airports want to develop a hydrogen refuelling hub for non-aviation use in the short term, as well as developing infrastructure for hydrogen use in aviation in the long-term.

The above will be carried out through a number of feasibility studies and collaboration.

Armando Brunini, CEO of SEA, the company that manages both locations, said, “With this agreement SEA has taken a concrete step forward in enabling important solutions for the decarbonisation of airports and the entire industry.

“We are going through an important transition and have chosen to be at the forefront of it, together with our partners. Innovation is in the DNA of aviation and, also thanks to Airbus, is moving towards a transformation that was unimaginable up to just a few years ago. We are proud to be part of it.”

Milano Malpensa and Milano Linate airports are among the European airports that have said they will achieve net zero carbon emissions already by 2030, 20 years earlier than the 2050 deadline set by the European Green Deal.