"California startup Natilus announced Wednesday that Indian carrier SpiceJet will order up to 100 of its new airliner called Horizon. The triangle-shaped "blended-wing body" (BWB) aircraft ditches the traditional tube-and-wing design for one giant, sweeping wing with the cabin built inside. It's a more efficient aircraft that allows for more space and fewer emissions. Natilus hopes to launch Horizon in the early 2030s."
"Company CEO Aleksey Matyushev said in a press release that India's growing aviation sector will be short about 2,200 aircraft by 2040 and believes his next-generation BWB could help fill that demand. India is the world's fifth-largest aviation market with about 211 million passengers in 2024 - an increase of about 11% year-over-year, according to the global airline trade association IATA."
"This is the first publicly announced international airline order for Horizon, but Natilus told Business Insider that its commercial order book - which also includes its BWB cargo version, Kona - stands at more than 570 orders valued at $25 billion following SpiceJet's order. Kona has purchase agreements with carriers like US operator Ameriflight, a partner of FedEx, DHL, and UPS, as well as Canadian airline Norol"
Natilus developed the Horizon, a triangle-shaped blended-wing body airliner that places the passenger cabin inside a single sweeping wing. The design aims to improve aerodynamic efficiency, increase interior space, and lower emissions, with launch targeted in the early 2030s. Indian carrier SpiceJet agreed to order up to 100 Horizons, contingent on certification in India, and will assist with regulatory navigation. Natilus established Natilus India in Mumbai and plans to source manufactured parts from India. The company reports a commercial order book including the BWB cargo Kona, totaling more than 570 orders valued at about $25 billion. India handled about 211 million passengers in 2024 and could face a shortfall of roughly 2,200 aircraft by 2040.
Read at Business Insider
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