Airbus Trial Paves Way for Goose-Inspired Flights Across the Atlantic

Airbus has successfully completed trials in collaboration with Delta, Air France, and Virgin Atlantic, paving the way for transatlantic flights inspired by the migratory patterns of geese. This milestone was announced on December 11, 2025, marking a significant advancement in the fello’fly project initiated in 2019.

Between September and October 2025, a series of eight flights over the North Atlantic were conducted. These flights utilized a unique formation technique that helps reduce fuel consumption. By pairing aircraft, the lead plane generates a lift, optimizing fuel efficiency for the trailing aircraft. This innovative method, referred to as “wake energy retrieval,” could potentially yield up to a 5% fuel savings on long-haul journeys.

The trials were part of the SESAR Joint Undertaking GEESE project, aiming to demonstrate both the feasibility and safety of this operational concept. The goal was to successfully guide two aircraft to rendezvous at a specific time and location.

As part of these tests, after achieving the planned meeting, the project demonstrated that full vertical separation was maintained and compliance with air traffic regulations was upheld. A spokesperson from Airbus noted that while the wake energy retrieval flights have not yet been piloted in commercial operations, achieving successful rendezvous is a critical initial step toward future efficiency improvements.

Each trial involved meticulous coordination among several parties, including the ground operational control centers of the airlines, four air traffic control centers, and two flight crews. Key collaborators, such as AirNav Ireland, DSNA, and EUROCONTROL’s Network Manager, contributed to the success of the project.

Airbus emphasized that the EUROCONTROL Innovation hub played a crucial role in validating the concept’s safety and practicality under real-world conditions. The trials confirmed a four-step procedural approach essential for managing the precise maneuvers required throughout the experiment.

This structured process includes:

– The initiation by the Airbus Pairing Assistance Tool (PAT), which calculates new trajectories and shares rendezvous instructions in real-time.
– Collaboration among dispatchers, flight crews, and Air Traffic Control (ATC) to ensure the trajectory changes are operationally viable. The EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub interface allows all involved parties to monitor decision statuses continuously.
– Adjustments to the flight paths of one aircraft to facilitate the meet-up.
– Activation of a cockpit function by both crews, ensuring they arrive at the predetermined meeting point at the specified time.

What are your thoughts on this innovative approach to fuel efficiency in aviation?