Dhaka, Nov. 30 -- Airbus has started developing a fuel-cell engine, it said on Wednesday, sticking with plans to introduce a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035.

The system is one of several options being considered for a potential zero-emission aircaft based on hydrogen, Airbus said.

It is the first time the world's largest planemaker has branched out directly into developing engine technology, but zero-emission project head Glenn Llewellyn said it would not necessarily go it alone if the system ended up being deployed.

Jet engine makers Rolls-Royce, General Electric, Safran and Pratt & Whitney are among its biggest suppliers.

Fuel cells use hydrogen to generate electricity for electric powerplants. An alternative approach b...