By CHRIS POLLARD, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 16:13 GMT, 30 December 2025 | Updated: 16:13 GMT, 30 December 2025

Passenger planes could start flying in convoy like flocks of migrating geese to slash fuel use.

Virgin Atlantic is among several airlines taking part in trials that may ultimately allow jets to fly in V-shaped formations.

Taking inspiration from nature, the method would allow planes to take advantage of updrafts produced by craft in front of them, allowing them to reduce engine thrust and burn less fuel.

The trial, run by Airbus, uses special air traffic control technology called Fello'fly that helps dispatchers to rendezvous multiple aircraft in the sky.

It then directs the pilots to adjust their positions to achieve the optimal energy-saving uplift, just as geese do naturally.

The so-called Geese project has already seen a Virgin flight from Heathrow pair up over the Atlantic with a Delta jet that took off from Amsterdam.

Virgin Atlantic's incoming chief executive Corneel Koster said flying in formation will help airlines meet net zero goals in future.

Geese and other migratory birds fly in a V-shaped convoy to take advantage of the updraft created by each other's wings

Virgin is among several other airlines to trial formation flying to save fuel

'There is some way to go before formation flights can become a regular feature of our skies but the proven success of the pairing stage is a huge step forward,' he said.

Each aircraft must remain separated by 1,000 feet in altitude and 1.8 miles in distance.

The following aircraft exploits the leader's wingtip vortices - powerful columns of air with powerful lift.

Airbus said the next challenge will be proving that formation flying can be maintained for thousands of miles using standard onboard equipment.