Airbus is weighing folding wingtips for a future narrowbody successor as it pushes ahead with its Wing of Tomorrow programme, seeking longer and more efficient wings without making the aircraft incompatible with current airport gates and taxiways. The concept is aimed at the next generation beyond the A320neo family and the 737 MAX, where lower drag and fuel burn must be balanced against operational constraints.
Sue Partridge, who heads Airbus’ Wing of Tomorrow work, has described the application of folding technology on single-aisle aircraft as more demanding than on widebodies because the mechanism must be compact, highly reliable and able to lock a large wing section quickly during frequent daily rotations. The Boeing 777X remains the clearest reference point, with folding wingtips already proven on a widebody, but the narrower structure and tighter integration on a single-aisle jet make the engineering harder.
Airbus has not yet settled whether the folding section will include actuators or remain fixed in flight, underlining that the design remains at an early stage. The broader programme includes ground work in Bremen and Bristol, alongside actuation support from Woodward, as Airbus continues to test how far it can stretch wing efficiency before airport infrastructure becomes the limiting factor.