More globally, the collaboration will also study the development of Korean airport infrastructure to support the deployment of hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft. This partnership reflects a shared ambition to drive the emergence of an innovative aviation sector dedicated to supporting the Korean government's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
In the framework of the MoU, the four partners will prepare a roadmap to first develop hydrogen usages at and around Incheon Airport, and build scenarios to support the deployment of hydrogen ecosystems connected to other Korean airports. As a second step, the partnership focuses on carrying out studies aimed at defining and developing the required liquid infrastructure at Incheon Airport to prepare the arrival of the first hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Each partner will leverage their complementary expertise to help define the potential opportunities that hydrogen offers, and support the decarbonization of the aviation industry.
Air Liquide will bring its expertise in mastering the entire hydrogen value chain (production, liquefaction, storage, and distribution), in particular liquid hydrogen supply.
Airbus will provide characteristics of hydrogen-powered aircraft ground operations as well as aircraft characteristics and fleet energy usage, while Korean Air will provide expertise on-ground aircraft operations and aviation management and operations.
Finally, Incheon International Airport Corporation will provide an airport development plan outlook, along with air traffic characteristics and distribution among terminals, starting with Incheon International Airport, one of the largest and busiest airports in the world.
Air Liquide will leverage its local footprint to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen solutions in South Korea. At Incheon Airport, the Group has already invested in two high-capacity hydrogen stations that started up in August 2021, serving hydrogen fuel cell buses, cars, and demonstration trucks, and is supplying hydrogen molecules to the stations under a long-term contract.
