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Forewordby Charles Champion, Head of Engineering at Airbus

Contents

Everybody knows that people need and want to travel. They always have and they always will.

We surveyed over 10,000 people around the world who will be passengers in 2050 to ask what they want from the aviation industry in the future.

Their message was clear – we need to help as many people as possible share in the benefits that air transport brings, but we need to achieve this while looking after the environment.

Demand for air travel will continue to grow, because it drives so much of the world’s social and economic development. But those who benefit and those who work in the aviation industry are also sensitive to the impact of their choices on the environment.

In the last 40 years we’ve made huge strides in terms of reducing costs, slashing emissions and reducing noise, which means we already have a good understanding of the issues involved in meeting those demands. You only have to look at the A380, A350XWB or A320neo to see how far we have come.

Now we are focusing on the challenges that have to be addressed if we are to achieve even more progress for 2050 and beyond – this can be anything from energy sources and air traffic management to new aircraft designs and integrated transport networks.

The future by Airbus highlights some of the challenges and decisions that lie ahead in creating a more connected and a more sustainable world. For example, should the industry go for huge fuel savings at the expense of noise? Is it okay for costs to increase if it makes recycling easier? When and how will air transport make the big switch away from kerosene? Is the education system going to deliver enough talented people to find the solutions?

Foreword ............................................................................................................3

The passenger of 2050 .......................................................................................5

Future energy sources .........................................................................................6

Unlocking transport congestion ..........................................................................9

A whole new way to fly ......................................................................................11

The Airbus Concept Plane ................................................................................13

The Airbus Concept Cabin ................................................................................17

Biomimicry ........................................................................................................24

Future talent ......................................................................................................27

Fly Your Ideas ....................................................................................................29

Conclusion ........................................................................................................30

Our global survey asked the young people that will be passengers in 2050 about their vision of air travel for tomorrow. It revealed that 7 in 10 people expect to fly more in the future, in greener aircraft, with access to their ‘digital world’ in flight.

Environmental issues were of concern to one in five citizens across the globe, particularly amongst people from Germany and China, followed by those from Japan, France and the United Kingdom.

Behind the numbers is a belief that we will live in an increasingly multicultural world. Economic growth was rated the top reason for flying abroad, with a high expectation in China, Singapore and Mexico; 46% cited a growing desire to travel further and experience more of our planet; and 37% the need for greater flexibility between life at home and place of work. At the same time, independent forecasts predict the global population will increase to over nine billion.

The Passenger 2050 survey told us that people will want cabins with radical interiors that interact with the environment outside and meet their emotional needs; the ability to access all the technological advances that fill their daily lives and a choice between speed and a more leisurely but indulgent experience (with as many as a third saying they wanted the flight itself to feel like a holiday experience).

The future passengers said they want to be able to individualise their travel experience by “clustering” together a series of themes and technological features, which will make their travel experience unique to their individual needs, creating a truly class-less environment.

There may be some huge step changes ahead for the aviation industry, but it’s clear that one thing won’t change – the importance of passenger needs at the centre of any decisions.

The passenger of 2050Our experts are already looking at some of these issues today. The Airbus Concept Plane and Cabin and The future by Airbus film are just engineers’ dreams, and the entries for the Fly Your Ideas student challenge are just that – ideas. But they offer a glimpse of some of the very real possibilities that existing technology and talent can offer – with the right investment, support and co-operation.

The future by Airbus is about our commitment to meeting people’s needs for the future and to encouraging them to play a part in helping to shape that future – their future – our future.

Sometimes in life you can’t settle for the easy option. You need to aim high and go for the very best solution possible. At Airbus we still dare to dream and we hope that The future by Airbus will inspire policy makers, investors, suppliers, airlines, teachers, researchers and young people everywhere to be part of the solution for a better world in 2050 and beyond.

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Charles Champion

Like most types of transport, flying depends on fossil fuels. But as everybody knows, supplies are running out, they damage the environment and they are expensive.

In the last forty years aircraft fuel burn and CO2 emissions have been cut by 70%. The industry contributes to 2% to man-made CO2 emissions, 80% of which are from flights of over 1,500km/900 miles for which there is no practical alternative.

As demand for air transport grows we need to improve this performance even more, which is why the aviation industry is determined to achieve carbon neutral

growth from 2020 and to cut CO2 emissions in half by 2050 (compared to 2005).

So we need to ensure that every drop of fuel is used efficiently and to develop new ecologically sound

alternatives.

Future energy sources

Biofuels Traditionally, carbon based/kerosene-like fuels have proven to be the best energy carrier for aircraft, because of properties like their ability to maintain stable temperatures. Biofuels offer many of the same benefits and every aircraft in

the world could use them immediately without having to change the infrastructure.

Biofuels are made from living things or the waste they produce. Airbus encourages the development of

second generation biofuels, known as biomass, which avoid competing with food resources. Some options being looked at include algae, woodchip waste, camelina, halophytes such as salicornia (plants growing in salt water), waste produce and yeast.

For example, if you give certain types of algae seawater, sun and carbon (the same carbon we are trying to get rid of), they become a ‘biomass’ plant. With over 200,000 types of algae suitable for research, they offer promising options for large scale production.

Through value chain projects, Airbus also uses local knowledge to identify the best choice of biofuels for each country by helping to connect farmers, refiners, governments and airlines. Farmers are encouraged to use non-arable land in the confidence that their crop will be bought by refiners, and, of course, producing

the fuel close to where the airlines need it also minimises emissions from transportation. Five programmes have already been established in Brazil, Qatar, Romania, Spain and Mexico, with others due to be added in Africa and Asia.

If biofuels can be produced in sufficient quantities for commercial use, Airbus believes that they could already provide up to 30% of all commercial aviation jet fuel by 2030.

While plants like camelina are a more likely source of sustainable biofuels in the short term, experts are also studying options like algae for longer term solutions

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Fuel cells A fuel cell is a device that transforms the energy of hydrogen into electricity (by combining the hydrogen with oxygen in a ‘cold’ combustion). The only waste is water, heat and oxygen depleted air, so no emissions and no noise!

What’s more, the water produced from the process can be used by the aircraft’s water and waste systems, which saves extra water having to be carried on board.

This reduces weight, which in turn reduces fuel burn and emissions even further.

It is unlikely that fuel cell technology will be used as the main power source in the near future. Instead engineers are

looking at using it for the cabin and aircraft systems, to power things like air

conditioning or starting the engine.

Unlocking transport congestion

With the world’s population about to reach 7 billion, more than 2.5 billion passengers already fly each year. With another 2 billion people expected to be living on the planet by 2050, there are going to be a lot more people on the move.

According to the Air Transport Association (IATA), reducing flight time by even one minute globally would save 4.8 million tonnes of CO2 every year. So as well as finding ways to reduce the amount of emissions created by aircraft when they fly between airports, we also need to find ways to avoid having fuel guzzling traffic jams above and around the airports.

If there is already such a big challenge today and by 2050 there could be four times as many planes but less ground space available for airports, how can we keep the skies safe and reduce emissions?

What is Airbus doing? European airspace is among the most crowded in the world, with over 33,000 flights on busy days. Airports like New York’s JFK have nearly 600 aircraft taking off every day - almost half of them within a six hour peak time window. And, nearly three quarters of the world’s air traffic passes through just 114 airports (out of more than 2,300)!

That’s why Airbus is involved in projects on both sides of the Atlantic to help improve air traffic management. The Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research (SESAR)

and its North American cousin, The Next Generation Air Transportation System, (NextGen) are initiatives that will help provide quicker

flights, shorter routes and, therefore, less fuel burn, emissions and congestion in the future.

Solar powerSolar power is the perfect renewable energy in many ways, but unfortunately it has limited use on aircraft because of the way it creates and stores power on board. While it can provide enough power for small aircraft to fly, it’s unlikely to be a practical solution when it comes to getting larger, commercial airliners into the sky.

The technology might take a giant leap forward, but today, even if an entire aircraft was covered with the most efficient solar panels available, it would still not be enough to propel a large aircraft. However, in the more immediate future, solar power could provide electricity on board the aircraft once it has reached altitude or help reduce fuel burn and emissions during ground operations around airports.

Energy harvesting Some of the energy sources being investigated by 2050 might seem farfetched by today’s standards. What about harvesting body heat for example? Instead of producing

energy, this would simply collect energy, from say the passenger’s seat, and redirect it to power some of the aircraft functions, like the cabin lights. It might seem crazy – but if you had asked somebody 40 years ago about a double-decker aircraft that carried more than 800 people but was more efficient than a small family car you might have got the same reaction!

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By 2050 there could be four times as many planes but less ground space

available for airports, how can we keep the skies safe and reduce emissions?

Formation flying As well as finding solutions to this problem by working with engineers, we might also be able to find some just by taking a look at nature around us.

In nature, large birds sometimes fly together to save energy and travel further. When flying in formation – as you see with migrating geese or ducks – the leading bird’s wings generate whirling masses of air. The following bird benefits from this air current to get some free extra lift, which means it needs to use less energy to fly.

Aircraft wings create the same effect, which we call a trailing vortex. Military pilots often use the same formation flying techniques to reduce the amount of energy – fuel burn – that they use.

At the moment, passenger aircraft do not use this technique because of safety concerns. However, Airbus is working with some of its partners to explore this idea as a way to reduce both fuel burn and emissions on long distance flights. In fact, this approach was also proposed by a young team of graduate engineers who made it to the final of the Airbus Fly Your Ideas challenge.

A whole new way to fly

In the past, air travel has mainly focussed on getting people from A to B as safely and as quickly as possible. But in the future, travelling could be an entirely different experience - integrating different stages of the journey, making the trip so enjoyable that passengers won’t want to arrive, or even changing the way you pay.

Pop on a pod What good are more comfortable, eco-efficient aircraft if the passengers have to waste hours on end in crowded airports? The airports of the future will have to be much more practical than today.

Perhaps taking a plane could become as simple as taking the underground, using the same style of boarding platforms right alongside. Or perhaps passengers will already be seated in cabin pods before the plane actually arrives, ready just to collect the pre-loaded passengers, saving time and making life simpler.

Cruising the sky Speedier air travel may not suit everyone. A lot of people simply love the experience of being above the clouds and away from it all.

So perhaps the next generation of cruise ships will be in the sky, not the sea, with packages to suit everyone – complete with swimming pools, spas and even golf courses. And perhaps you won’t even have to pay for your ticket, with the operators making their money from casino takings, restaurants and other attractions.

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Formation flying: Airbus is working with some of its partners to explore this idea as a way to reduce both fuel burn and emissions on long distance flights

Aircraft carriers Hundreds of flights already take place on popular long distance routes like from Europe to the US, Asia or Australia and there will be a lot more by 2050.

So, instead of operating dozens of separate flights, perhaps we could have giant aircraft carriers. Smaller aircraft could dock on them for most of the journey – perhaps using vertical take-off and landing – then just provide a more localised shuttle service at either end of the trip. The size of these new generation aircraft carriers might even open up new possibilities for the type of energy that could be used to power them.

The Airbus Concept Plane

Airbus experts in aircraft materials, aerodynamics and engines came up with a Concept Plane design that is an ‘engineer’s dream’.

More than a flight of pure fantasy, The Airbus Concept Plane embodies what air transport could look like in 2050 – even 2030 if advancements in existing technologies continue apace. Ultra long and slim wings, semi-embedded engines, a U-shaped tail and lightweight intelligent body all feature to further improve environmental performance or ‘eco-efficiency’. The result is lower fuel burn, a significant cut in emissions, decreased noise pollution and greater comfort.

The Airbus Concept Plane brings together a package of technologies, which although feasible, are unlikely ever to coexist in this manner. So it is not a plane that will fly, but it stretches the imagination of engineers, it highlights some of the challenges and decisions that lie ahead for air travel, and it illustrates the main technologies being explored in anticipation of the future needs of passengers and their planet.

Vertical take-off and landing

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Configured wingspan Longer and slimmer wings glide better through the skies,

as the flow of air over the wing surface reduces drag and in turn, improves fuel efficiency.

Intelligent materials New lightweight ‘smart’ materials sense the load they are under, making for a lighter aircraft that

draws less fuel and curbs emissions.

Manufacturing methods

New manufacturing methods will reduce the cost and environmental

impact of building the aircraft despite the new advance materials

and complex shapes.

Doors Entrance/exit doorways are

double doors to allow for faster,

easier boarding.

Engines Engines will be more reliable, quieter and fuel-efficient. The positioning of the engines, at the rear and semi-embedded, fully optimises the aircraft for lower fuel burn. The engine placement also boosts

cabin comfort through decreased noise levels. The engines can be incorporated into the aircraft body because

technological advances will have reached such a level that superior engine reliability will diminish the need for immediate access to its components.

Empennage The empennage (tail section of the aircraft) is U-shaped, acting as a shield to reduce external noise pollution. The concept plane does not use a vertical tail, as seen on the planes of today. Vertical tails are

required when engines are installed on the wings as they provide directional stability in case of engine failure.

The engines of the future will have no risk of failure, eliminating the need for a vertical tail.

Fuselage The fuselage (central body of the aircraft)

is no longer a simple tube but is curved and

shaped to provide more internal space for various cabin configurations, with better aerodynamics outside to improve flight.

The fuselage and entire aircraft structure is manufactured entirely from composite to take advantage of the easy-to-shape

characteristics of the material.

Electrical systems The electrical system will continuously

monitor its own state of health, anticipating any need for maintenance and automatically scheduling this well

in advance. Electronics and other systems on board will be entirely self-sufficient, requiring

minimum to zero maintenance.

The Airbus Concept Plane

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Getting the balance right The Concept Plane is unique because it can bring together different technologies, without having to worry about the impact of one on the others – so it represents the best of all worlds. In reality engineers have to find the best balance of technologies, depending on what the priorities are.

So for example, chart 1 shows that if you introduce new technology that improves fuel burn, emissions and the passenger experience, the performance on noise, costs and productivity may be reduced.

Likewise, chart 2 shows that if you concentrate on reducing noise and simplifying operations, the fuel burn and emissions could be less impressive, and the aircraft may be more difficult to manufacture and recycle.

However, as time progresses, new technologies mature and can be used to expand capabilities in the desired direction, as shown in chart 3.

CHART 1

CHART 2

CHART 3

Based on extensive research into the way the world’s population is changing, the Airbus Concept Cabin illustrates what the future of flight might look like from the passengers’ perspective. Inspired by nature – and designed to protect it - aircraft cabins of the future will be customised to the needs of individual passengers.

In the Concept Cabin First, Business and Economy class are replaced by zones that target more individual needs like relaxing, playing games, interacting with other passengers or even with people on the ground. The cabin’s bionic structure and responsive membrane combines panoramic views with an integrated neural network, which can identify and respond to the specific needs of each passenger. And the fittings and furnishings will take care of their own cleaning and repairs thanks to innovations inspired by nature, like dirt repellent coatings and self healing covers.

By offering different levels of experience, airlines would be able to achieve the price differential they need to operate a successful business, give more people access to the benefits of air travel and still look after the environment.

The Airbus Concept Cabin

By 2050 the world’s population is expected to increase to 9.1 billion1. But who will these people be and how will they want to fly?

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Biopolymer membrane The cabin’s bionic structure will be coated with a biopolymer membrane, which controls the amount of natural light, humidity and temperature, providing opacity or transparency on command and eliminating the need for windows. This smarter structure will make the aircraft lighter and more fuel-efficient while giving passengers 360 degree views of the skies. This will offer unparalleled, unobstructed views of the wonders of the five continents – where you will be able see the pyramids or the Eiffel Tower through the transparent floor of the aircraft.

Composite materials Future materials may not even be the materials we see and use today. ‘Composite’ materials will be used – new matter made of a combination of different materials. In the future materials may not even take a solid state, but could be a composition of fluid and gas for example!

While the Concept Plane shows how advanced materials can create a high performance aircraft with a more traditional look, the Concept Cabin provides a little taste of some of the alternatives.

Bionic structures Future aircraft could be built using a bionic structure that mimics the bone structure of birds. Bone is both light and strong because its porous interior carries tension only where necessary, leaving space elsewhere. By using bionic structures, the fuselage has the strength it needs, but can also make the most of extra space where required. This not only reduces the aircraft’s weight and fuel burn, but also makes it possible to add features like oversized doors for easier boarding and panoramic windows.

The cabin’s bionic structure and responsive membrane combines panoramic views with an integrated neural network based on the human nervous system

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Cabin technologies

Self-reliant materials Materials will be self-cleaning. Think of the leaves of a lotus plant, which water rolls off in beads, taking contaminants with it. Today, coatings inspired by this are used on the surfaces of cabin bathrooms. In the future they will be found on the fabric of seats and the carpets.

These intelligent materials could also be self-repairing, which is already used today in surface protection. Certain paints can seal a scratch by themselves, just as the human skin does.

Ecological materials The future passenger cabin will be fully ecological. Fully recyclable plant fibres that can be grown to a custom shape will be sourced from responsible and sustainable practices.

Integrated neural network The cabin electrical system can be compared to the human brain, with a network of intelligence pulsating through the cabin. This network will be absorbed into the structural materials, making the hundreds of kilometres of cables and wires found in today’s aircraft a thing of the past. Known as ‘Smart’ materials they can perform numerous functions, recognising the passenger, so that you too are ‘connected’ to the plane.

Morphing materials Materials that change shape and return to their initial form, growing like the leaves of a plant, are a very real possibility. Morphing materials might be metals or polymers that have a ‘memory’; or are covered with a ‘skin’ that will instigate a shape change. A memory is created using sensor and activator systems that give materials a certain level of artificial intelligence, allowing them to adapt to the passengers’ needs.

The future passenger cabin will be fully ecological

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Holographic technology will have advanced to such a degree that the virtual world will be indistinguishable from the real.

Energy harvesting Smart energy solutions such as energy harvesting will be a part of the cabin environment. The body heat you give out will be collected by your seat or pod as you relax or sleep, and combined with energy collected from other sources, like solar panels, to fuel cabin appliances.

3D printing Some of the elements in the cabin could be created using additive layer manufacturing, which is a bit like printing in 3D. The process repeatedly prints very thin layers of material on top of each other until the layers form a solid object in materials ranging from high-grade titanium alloys to glass and concrete. As well as making it simpler to produce very complex shapes, this form of production wastes a lot less material than cutting shapes out of bigger blocks. While this technique is already being tested for small aircraft parts today, in the future, its use could be widespread – not only in industry but in people’s homes!

Holographic technology Scenes showing the destination, a city skyline or a tropical forest, will be projected onto the walls. A private cabin can reflect your bedroom at home, a business conference or even a zen garden, thanks to the projection of virtual decors.

Smart energy solutions such as energy harvesting will be a part of the cabin environment

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Biomimicry

What do Velcro, Michael Phelps’ sharkskin swimsuit and the world’s largest passenger aircraft – the Airbus A380 – have in common? The answer rests in a growing field of scientific study through which modern engineers, scientists and architects are looking not at what we can extract from the natural world but what we can learn from it.

This is known as ‘biomimicry’ or biologically inspired engineering. Simply put, it’s the study and imitation of nature’s best ideas to help solve human challenges. A growing number of aeronautical innovations are inspired by an array of natural structures, organs and materials – and these tried and tested patterns of the natural world will continue to be a powerful source of inspiration in the future.

When nature has solutions like this to offer, it’s clear why we all have an interest in protecting the world around us.

The lotus effect The surface of a lotus leaf has evolved to keep it clean and dry by causing rainwater to roll off and take any dirt with it. Known as the “lotus effect”, these properties have inspired coatings for cabin fittings, which shed water in beads, taking contaminants with them. This improves hygiene and reduces the amount of water needed. This in turn reduces the weight of the aircraft and, therefore, the amount of fuel burn and carbon emissions. This innovation is already used on the surfaces of Airbus cabin bathrooms today and in the future will be found on the fabric of seats and carpets.

One of the teams in the final of this year’s Fly Your Ideas competition has also been inspired to use the lotus technique on the outside of the aircraft.

Moveable wing surfaces In the same way that sea birds sense gust loads in the air with their beaks and react by adjusting the shape of their wing feathers to suppress lift, probes in the nose of the new Airbus A350XWB detects gusts ahead of the wing and deploy moveable surfaces for more efficient flight. This helps reduce fuel burn and, therefore, emissions.

Eagle inspired winglets If the wings of large birds of prey like the Steppe Eagle were too long, their turning circle would be too big to fit inside the rising columns of warm air which they use to soar. The eagle’s wings perfectly balance maximum lift with minimum length by curling feathers up at the tips until they are almost vertical. This provides a barrier against the vortex for highly efficient flight. If built to a conventional design, the A380’s wingspan would have

been three metres too long for the world’s airports. But thanks to small devices known as ‘winglets,’ which mimic the upward curl of the eagle’s feathers, the A380’s wings are 20cm inside airport limits but still provide enough lift for the world’s largest passenger aircraft to fly efficiently – saving fuel, lowering emissions and reducing airport congestion.

The silent flight of the owl The long-eared owl is a truly silent hunter. Over 20 million years, owls have evolved serrated feathers on their wings and downy feathers on their legs, which minimise aerodynamic noise. While modern aircraft already produce 75% less noise than those built 40 years ago, Airbus engineers are studying owls to further unlock the secrets

of silent flight. Ideas include a retractable brush-like fringe to mimic the owls’ trailing feathers and velvety coating on aircraft landing gear.

The use of bionics In the biological world many creatures, such as bees and butterflies, use lightweight, active skeletal structures for a variety of purposes. These examples have inspired Airbus to consider the use of such ‘bionic structures’ as part of future aircraft structures. If the aerodynamic surfaces could be made lighter or more adaptive to the local environment then the weight of the aircraft could be reduced with

benefits in the form of reduced emissions. Airbus engineers are also exploring nature inspired manufacturing techniques to create ‘bionic bones’, which may enable such lightweight active structures on the aircraft of tomorrow.

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‘Groovy’ shark skin Remember Michael Phelps’ sharkskin swimsuit? Well the same principles could be applied to the exterior of an aircraft. The skin of a shark is covered by microscopic grooves that scientists have found actually reduces their drag through the water, allowing the shark to conserve energy as it searches for food. For over thirty years this ‘groovy skin’ concept has been investigated and tested by

aerospace engineers and is eventually being adapted and applied to the construction of Airbus aircraft. Just as a shark can minimise the energy it expends in motion, these microscopic grooves can help to reduce the fuel burnt by a jet aircraft.

Butterfly wings Butterflies and insects are some of the most beautiful and delicate creatures on the planet, which belies the fantastically intricate mechanisms in their wing structure, designed to achieve optimum efficiency in flight. Soft membrane and blood vessels (micro-capillaries) can stiffen or relax to allow the wing to adapt to every stage of flight. Airbus engineers have similarly developed aircraft wings

that naturally turn and twist in flight, but if this could be controlled then their efficiency could be enhanced, reducing the fuel burnt during flight. Engineers are researching the possibility of using small movable surfaces and active internal structural components as part of an aircraft wing to mimic the way micro-capillaries in a butterfly’s wing make for more efficient flight in the future.

Many thanks to the team at Wildscreen’s ARKive project for the images representing biomimicry you see here. Discover thousands of photos of endangered species and future inspiration at www.arkive.org

Future talent

The world will be very different in many ways by 2050, but one thing will not change. We will still need great people to make it even better!

Airbus knows it will take the very best talent to create a more connected and a more sustainable world. Even once we’ve found the right combination of people, we need to make sure that we can support them by providing the best training and facilities. But what will that look like by 2050 – when the schoolchildren of today will be creating the next generation of air transport?

Nurturing talent Airbus is committed to ensuring training and development is at the heart of its business, either within Airbus or in the wider community.

Airbus identifies the skills and technologies that will be needed many years from now and works with education institutions and other organisations to see where we can use our own experience to support young people. It could be about lobbying governments for more investment in education, helping to ensure that students get the right sort of education for a career in engineering specialties that will be in demand in the future, or it could just be giving kids access to some of the most innovative thinkers in the world today to inspire them to do well in whatever they choose to do in their lives.

A diverse workforce Our world is changing faster than ever – we are travelling more, working outside of our home country, living and working longer.

If you take a look round Airbus today you will already find employees from over 80 countries speaking over 20 different languages. It can create some unique situations like finding yourself at a coffee machine listening to a Norwegian, a Spaniard and a German speaking together in French!

Gannet in flight, adjusting feather shape to suppress lift

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Fly Your Ideas

People from every background can enjoy working in aviation to help shape the future. Fly Your Ideas is a global challenge that brings together university students from all disciplines to tell us what they would do to make the aviation industry more sustainable.

Launched in 2008, the competition runs every two years and gives a rare opportunity for tomorrow’s generation to develop their ideas for the future alongside some of the most talented people working in the aviation industry today. The winning team receives a prize of 30,000, the runners up share 15,000, and all of the finalists get the chance to present their ideas at an international airshow.

The 2011 challenge of improving “The Environmental Life Cycle” was taken up by more than 2,600 students from 75 countries. The 315 teams developed ideas related to a stage of the aircraft’s life cycle: design, supply chain, manufacturing, aircraft operations or aircraft end-of-life.

By pairing the team with Airbus mentors, the challenge increases the students’ awareness of the environmental and aeronautic challenges of the future and inspires them to consider a career in aviation.

For further information visit: www.airbus-fyi.com

But imagine a work force that is truly as diverse as the society we live in and the customers that we serve – where each person is working as part of a team that thinks outside the box, continuously innovating and better understanding the needs of all future passengers, from all parts of the world. That is definitely a key part of Airbus’ vision for 2050.

What does a career at Airbus look like in the future? Over the next 20 years the world’s airlines will need more than 24,000 new aircraft, which must be greener, cleaner, quieter and smarter than ever before. By 2050 they will need a whole new generation of aircraft that address changing demographics and environmental concerns. That’s why Airbus needs the best team in the world to help design, build, support and, ultimately, recycle its aircraft.

Airbus employs more than 52,500 people in sites around the world, which guarantees a huge range of career opportunities for people driven by a pioneering spirit and passion for aeronautics.

If today, we invest and nurture the talent of tomorrow, technology and innovation can make life better for all of us.

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The Fly Your Ideas Winners 2009, C0z, from the University

of Queensland, Australia

ConclusionAir travel is about connecting people. But, at Airbus we also want to focus on the travel experience itself; the journey as much as the destination. We see every passenger being able to choose how they want to travel in the future and also a significant reduction in weight, fuel burn, emissions and waste.

But first we have another journey to take – the journey towards the future by Airbus.

Now that you know the opportunities and the challenges that lie ahead, why not get involved and help to shape the future of air transport and the future of our planet?

Visit www.thefuturebyairbus.com

Email: thefuture@airbus.com

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www.thefuturebyairbus.comthefuture@airbus.com

AIRBUS S.A.S. 2011 Blagnac, France© AIRBUS S.A.S 2011 all rights reserved, Airbus, its logo, and product names are registered trade marks.Concept design by Good Relations, Printed in the UK.