Delta Air Lines is marking the turn of its first century by partnering with Airbus and borrowing age-old inspiration from nature to save energy, the company has announced. The “biomimicry” trial investigates how aircraft flying close together on long-haul routes could save energy and promote sustainable travel, drawing inspiration from the “V-shaped” flight pattern of migrating geese.
Wake energy retrieval can cut emissions by 5% per flight
Dubbed “fello’fly”, the collaborative flight pattern has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and, therefore, reduce the environmental impact of commercial aviation, a press release explains. The technique is known as wake energy retrieval, and it enables the aircraft positioned at the rear of the formation to “surf” the air upwash of a lead plane. The air upwash essentially gifts the aircraft at the rear free lift, resulting in less engine thrust and, as a result, reduced fuel consumption. It’s the same wisdom passed down through some species of birds that are able to conserve their resources over the course of lengthy seasonal migrations.
Following the lab-proven method, the sustainability gains are significant, with a first successful transatlantic trip proving the concept. The uplift from travelling in a partner’s wake has been shown to drive down CO2 emissions by at least a 5% reduction per trip, according to test reports by NASA.
Is it dangerous?
The first thought to cross public minds, especially after the recent high-profile deadly air collision over Washington D.C, might be that aircraft flying in close proximity could create a safety hazard. But this worry has been addressed by a technical solution developed by Airbus. It ensures that, after rendez-vous over the Atlantic, the two aircraft remain steadily, vertically separated by the required 1,000ft (303m), while slashing the distance between them to just 1.2 nautical miles (2.2km).
Speaking about the innovation at 2025’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Julie Kitcher, Airbus Chief Sustainability Officer and Communications said: “With Delta we are redefining the future of aviation. By leveraging our combined expertise, we are accelerating groundbreaking innovations—from advancing cutting-edge flight techniques to scaling up the production of renewable fuels (SAF). Together, we are addressing today’s challenges and shaping a more connected, lower carbon future for generations of travelers to come.”
What’s more, Delta is not the only partner in the venture. It is supported by DGAC, the French Civil Aviation Authority and the European Union’s air traffic management research arm, Sesar.Airbus is also collaborating with Frenchbee and SAS Scandinavian Airlines, as well as aviation management bodies such as France’s DSNA (Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne), the UK’s NATS, Europe’s EUROCONTROL, plus NAVCANADA and the IAA (Irish Aviation Authority). Together the carriers and agencies are set to continue to explore and demonstrate the operational feasibility of the project.
