Airbus, one of the biggest air companies in Europe, is trying a new flying formation, inspired in birds, to save fuel. The project is called Fello’fly and its goal is to optimize routes using the aerodynamic ascent created by an aircraft flying in front. This method will help reducing fuel consumption, cutting emissions and helping airlines save some money.
They believe that air companies could spend less money on combustion if they could copy how migratory birds fly together. Airbus states that they can reduce fuel in long-haul destinations without changing or modifying their existing planes.
They propose to take advantage of the dynamics of airflow, which is similar to the “slipstream” effect—like they do in Formula 1.
Fello’fly: A pairing flights concept
For this concept you need two planes; one will be leading, and while it flies, it leaves a wake behind, that creates a slight support upwards. The second aircraft can then “ride” that flow to improve efficiency, thanks to the energy it recovers from the first plane’s wake.
Airbus has already done a few trials with Air France, Delta Air Lines, French bee, and Virgin Atlantic to validate that the concept works and it’s actually doable in a safe manner, with precision and respecting all regulations.
According to BFM Business, the company executed 8 flights over the North Atlantic between September and October 2025. And these tests demonstrated that it was possible to guide two planes to a precise meeting point (“Rendez-vous”) while keeping the designated distance by the air control.
This could redice up to 5% of fuel requirements in long flights if it is done for commercial flights, according to the air company. Eventually reducing CO₂ too.
What the trials confirm—and what they don’t
When Fello’fly uses the wake the leading plane leaves, this reduces the need to push, and burned fuel. The potential benefit (up to 5% in saving fuel) is still relevant because of rising costs and increasing climate pressure. However, the total impact is more limited than that with all the challenges in structure, like the high cost of cleaner fuels, the shortage of new aircraft and the constant growth of air traffic.
Airbus projects that there will be about 8 billion passengers by 2040—higher than the 4.5 billion in 2019; meaning more flights, and a larger global fleet.
A study by Transport & Environment shows that the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will grow; but, even if the SAF reaches 42% as required by European standards, the sector would burn as much fossil kerosene in 2049 as it did in 2023.
Efficiency in the air—and less fossil fuels
For passengers and airlines, Fello’fly aims for slightly more efficient long-haul flights, with fewer emissions and potential operational savings without changing planes.
And overall, it is a solution that could be implemented in today’s commercial flights without changing much for the customers. It might not fix the whole fuel consumption issue, but it could help to reduce the use of it.
We will still need cleaner fuels, more efficient floats and a better management of traffic growth. But what this air company is doing, it is still very important, because is not about one method, or another; it’s about finding solutions, that together will contribute to a greener and less expensive way to fly.
Airbus’ concept, with the bird-inspired training, the advancement of SAF and technological improvements backed up by big airplane companies, has already shown interesting results. However, the data shows that, even with ambitious SAF quotas, the sector will continue to face a major challenge to reduce the use of fossil kerosene at the rhythm that the industry is asking for it.