The compressor for air supply to the fuel cell stack is a critical component of the balance of plant, especially for mobile applications. The main requirements of the compressor are the performance regarding pressure ratio, mass flow and efficiency at minimal size and weight. The turbo compressor technology is ideally suited to cope with these requirements. The lifetime requirement and the necessity of oil and particle free air supply advised to employ air bearings. The fuel cell air supply requirements are in conflict with the turbo compressor pressure ratio and mass flow characteristics. Possible solutions and their impact onto compressor design and fuel cell operation are described in this paper. The chosen system design approach considering all design aspects and its interactions during the design phase is beneficial in order to achieve the most lightweight and efficient air supply system for fuel cells. Experimental validation of an air bearing turbo compressor for a 100 kW fuel cell stack on an aerodynamic test rig verifies the predicted performance.