The company found the BWB (Blended Wing Body) design unsuitable for smaller aircraft and postponed the hydrogen-powered “ZEROe” program for up to a decade.
Airbus has announced that it will favour the conventional tube-and-wing configuration for the future of medium-range aircraft. Speaking at the US Chamber of Commerce Aviation Summit in Washington, CEO Guillaume Faury stated that the blended wing-body (BWB) concept creates aerodynamic disadvantages for small and medium-sized aircraft.
According to Airbus, the BWB design generates excessive drag in smaller aircraft and is not compatible with wing thickness requirements. Consequently, the company is focusing on longer, thinner wings for the next generation of narrow-body aircraft.
Hydrogen Aircraft Plans Postponed
Airbus has delayed its “ZEROe” hydrogen-powered passenger aircraft program, developed as part of its eco-friendly aviation vision, by at least ten years. The reason cited is that hydrogen infrastructure and engine technology are progressing more slowly than anticipated.
The company sees potential for one hydrogen concept—the 200-seat, 2,000-nautical-mile BWB design—only for larger aircraft.
Next-Generation Efficiency Goals
The Wing of Tomorrow program aims to develop lighter, more efficient wing structures. Airbus anticipates a 20–25% fuel saving for new narrow-body jets, half of which will come from engines and the other half from aerodynamic design and fuselage improvements.
The manufacturer is evaluating CFM International’s open-rotor engine concept for the next-generation aircraft. By eliminating nacelles, this design offers lower drag and higher efficiency.
Airbus plans to begin developing the new narrow-body jet toward the end of this decade, with market entry expected in the second half of the 2030s.
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