Next-Generation Single Aisle (A320 successor) by Airbus: status and timeline

Next-Generation Single Aisle (A320 successor)

Cut fuel burn per flight by 20-30% on the busiest class of airliner and run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel, keeping Airbus ahead in the single-aisle market.

ResearchStage 1 of 5

Technology studies under way; Airbus reaffirmed in June 2026 a 2030 launch and service in the late 2030s.

Updated Jun 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Technology maturation and engine choice (eAction project)

Concept revealed at Airbus Summit: folding wings, open fanMar 2025Complete.
Launch and service-entry timeline reaffirmed by CEOJun 2026Complete.
Technology maturation and engine choice (eAction project)Target 2026Current milestone.
CFM RISE open-fan flight demonstration with AirbusNot yet reached.
Program launch decisionTarget 2030Not yet reached.
Entry into serviceNot yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

2026Technology maturation and engine choice (eAction project) (next)
2030Program launch decision

Current obstacles

Open fan unproven in serviceOpen fans have never entered airline service (only 1980s demonstrators flew); noise, blade-failure safety and wing mounting are open questions.
Timing against engine readinessA 2030 launch depends on a new engine, likely an open fan, being mature enough by then; engine makers set the real pace.
Building at huge ratesA new A320-class jet must ramp to very high production quickly while the A320neo keeps being built in parallel.

Physics limits

Bigger fans hit a size wallEfficiency rises as an engine moves more air more slowly, which needs a bigger fan. A casing's weight and drag grow with fan size; dropping it makes noise and blade containment the hard part.
Wingspan is capped by airportsLonger wings cut drag, but airport gates for this class of jet allow a span under 36 m. Folding tips get around that, at the cost of extra weight and complexity that eat part of the gain.
Kerosene's energy is hard to beatJet fuel holds about 43 MJ per kg, roughly 40-50 times the best lithium-ion batteries. That is why battery airliners of this size remain far off and the gains must come from efficiency.

How it works

4 parts

Engine

Open fan, no casing

Big blades spin outside any casing and push a lot of air back gently rather than a little air fast. That wastes less energy, so thrust costs less fuel.

Wing

Long, thin, folding wings

Longer, slimmer wings make less drag. Folding tips let the wider span still fit today's airport gates, an idea tested in Wing of Tomorrow.

Materials

More composites, built fast

Carbon fibre saves weight, but Airbus plans for about 100 jets a month and today's composite processes are far slower; faster methods are needed.

Fuel

Ready for 100% SAF

Hydrogen was pushed back, so the jet burns kerosene or sustainable fuel; efficiency matters because SAF costs far more.

Spec sheet

vs A320neo family

Spec	Next-Generation Single Aisle (A320 successor)	A320neo family	Change
Fuel burn vs today	20-30% lower (target)^R (reported)	—	—no comparable change
Sustainable fuel capability	Up to 100% SAF^R (reported)	—	—no comparable change
RISE engine fuel saving (target)	20% vs current engines^R (reported)	—	—no comparable change
Open-fan bypass ratio	About 60:1^R (reported)	About 11-12:1	▲ 49

^R reported by the company

Update log

2 updates

Jun 2026

Major: Airbus keeps 2030 launch target for A320 successor, with service entry in the second half of the 2030sPressOther

Mar 2025

Major: Airbus shows A320-successor concepts: longer folding wings, open-fan engine, 20-30% lower fuel burnPressResearch

About Airbus

The team behind Next-Generation Single Aisle (A320 successor)

Airbus

Aircraft, helicopters, space systems

Airbus designs commercial aircraft, helicopters, and space systems. It operates three divisions: commercial airplanes, defense/space, and helicopters.

Largest commercial aircraft maker with 182,000 employees worldwide.
ZEROe hydrogen airliner pushed from 2035 to the 2040s (Feb 2025); the A380 fuel-cell flight test was cancelled.

airbus.com (opens airbus.com)Company profile →

Founded: 197056 yrs
Headquarters: NetherlandsFrance
Status: Public
Listed: EADSFOTC
Valuation: $165Bmarket capOct 2026
Staff: ~182,258Jan 2025
Works in: AviationElectric & hydrogen planes
Coverage: 2 programs · 6 updateslatest 2d agochecked 11 Oct
Partners: MTU Aero Engines (opens mtu.de)
People: Guillaume Faury (opens en.wikipedia.org)Chief Executive Officer

Spec

Next-Generation Single Aisle (A320 successor)

A320neo family

Change

Fuel burn vs today

20-30% lower (target)^R (reported)

—

—no comparable change

Sustainable fuel capability

Up to 100% SAF^R (reported)

—

—no comparable change

RISE engine fuel saving (target)

20% vs current engines^R (reported)

—

—no comparable change

Open-fan bypass ratio

About 60:1^R (reported)

About 11-12:1

▲ 49