Airbus Trial Opens Door to Geese-Inspired Transatlantic Flights
December 11, 2025 · 1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2025-1765565806238-1354
Airbus has completed a new phase of trials for its fello’fly project, which uses migrating geese as a source of inspiration for flight innovation. The trial involved eight flights over the North Atlantic Ocean and aimed to show that wake energy retrieval is a feasible and safe method to guide two aircraft to meet at a precise time and place. Airbus partners included Delta, Air France and Virgin Atlantic. According to AeroTime, the successful completion of the rendezvous process is a crucial first step toward future efficiency gains.
Key Takeaways
- Airbus trial in collaboration with Delta, Air France and Virgin Atlantic has opened the door to geese-inspired transatlantic flights.
- The experiment was described as ‘successful’ by Airbus.
- Eight flights over the North Atlantic Ocean were trialed between September and October 2025.
- Wake energy retrieval has the potential to make fuel savings of up to 5% on long-haul flights.
- Airbus aims to show that the operational concept is feasible and a safe method to guide two aircraft to meet at a precise time and place.
Strategic Implications
This trial may indicate Airbus’ focus on innovative flight techniques to reduce fuel consumption. The successful completion of the rendezvous process suggests potential for future efficiency gains, but actual wake energy retrieval trials have not been tested yet on commercial flights.