Airbus's New Way To Travel-Fly Like Birds And Save Fuel! (Video)

Passenger aircraft flying in formation like birds are likely to be a feature of aviation in the second half of this century, according to plans revealed by aviation giant Airbus.

Aircraft flying in formation, about 1 kilometer apart, could be a feature of aviation by 2050 on high-traffic routes under a plan produced by Airbus.

The company's engineering chief Charles Champion says the idea - modeled on the way birds fly long distances - will reduce fuel consumption.

The company says that by the middle of the 21st century flights in Europe and the USA could on average be around 13 minutes shorter, cutting down on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

They also envisage aircraft climbing more steeply on take-off to minimise noise and allow for shorter runways.Aviation analyst Howard Wheeldon welcomes the ideas, but warns it'll take more than aircraft technology to implement.

However unlikely this might look now, Airbus insists their blueprint will be helping passengers get from A to B more efficiently within decades.