The Future by Airbus [EN]

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? Our 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.

The passenger of 2050

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 Japanese, French and British citizens.  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 almost double – topping nine billion. The Passenger 2050 survey told us that people will want cabins with radical interior 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.