Airbus this week unveiled the latest iteration of its planned 100-seat hydrogen-powered airliner, reaffirming its commitment to the ZeroE program it now says could lead to the launch of commercial services toward the end of the 2030s. During its Airbus Summit presentations in Toulouse on March 25, the European aerospace group revealed a design with four wing-mounted open-rotor propulsion systems that Glenn Llewellyn, v-p of the ZeroE project, said was based on progress in achieving improved power density since it first showed a six-engine model in December 2020.

Having completed more than 100 untethered flight tests with the first full-scale prototype of its five-seat Vertiia eVTOL aircraft, Australian start-up AMSL Aero has shifted its focus toward building a second prototype that will demonstrate the company’s hydrogen-electric powertrain. The company aims to roll out the new prototype and resume flight testing by the end of this year, AMSL commercial director Rick Wong told AIN.

Electra Aero reported it has logged provisional orders for around 2,200 of its EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric utility aircraft. The Virginia-based company is promoting business models around its Direct Aviation concept, which it maintains will allow operators of the blown-lift aircraft to bypass larger airports, establishing entirely new routes between underserved locations.

Universal Avionics introduced an AI-powered taxi assist solution at AEA 2025 to address the persistent safety challenge during aircraft ground operations at airports. With the new product, the company aims to reduce the 1,500 runway incursions that occur each year in the U.S.

Airbus and a consortium of 10 partners from four European countries this week launched a study to assess the impact of non-CO² emissions on local air quality and climate. The research program, called Particle emissions, Air Quality, and Climate Impact related to Fuel Composition and Engine Cycle (PACIFIC), was announced on Tuesday at the Airbus Summit in Toulouse and will focus mainly on contrails.

Regent Craft this week submitted the design basis agreement for its Viceroy seaglider to the U.S. Coast Guard, which is handling the certification process for the electric-powered, wing-in-ground effect vessel. The Rhode Island-based company announced the milestone on March 20, two weeks after starting sea trials with a prototype.

Advanced air mobility infrastructure specialist Skyportz has released details of a patented vertiport design it says mitigates the impact of downwash and outwash from eVTOL aircraft. The Australian company published its plans on March 24 during the Avalon International Airshow near Melbourne.

The U.S. government has appointed Boeing as its prime contractor for the Next Generation Air Dominance program, which will combine the new F-47 fighter with drone capability. The sixth-generation air superiority jet is set to replace the F-22 Raptor, developed by Lockheed Martin, which lost out to Boeing in this multi-billion dollar contest. The Raptor has been in the front lines of U.S. air power for almost 20 years and has also starred in air show flying displays around the world, such as this appearance at the 2019 Dubai Air Show when it turned heads with a powerful demonstration.