This radical plane concept with an all-in-one wing could be the future of flight. See the leading designs from startups and Airbus.

Nautilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev told Business Insider that banking on the airframe to reduce emissions is a better strategy than relying on sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. Analysts have previously told BI that SAF is expensive and won't be available in the quantities needed to meet the industry's 2050 net-zero goal.

Matyushev said a lighter airframe and engines, combined with the more fuel-friendly wing that maintains standard capacity, would allow its Horizon jet to be up to 50% more efficient per passenger.

JetZero also expects its Pathfinder to burn 50% less fuel and has already partnered with the US Air Force to develop a blended-wing prototype. Airbus' announced ZEROe concept would run on hydrogen with zero emissions.

University of Illinois aerospace professor Michael Bragg previously told BI that the development of lighter yet still strong composite materials is key to reducing fuel burn on blended-wing aircraft designs.

JetZero, Natlius, and Airbus' blended-wing concepts have two engines attached to the back instead of under the wings, like most modern jetliners. Airbus said the engine location would reduce noise.

JetZero plans to borrow engines from planes like the Boeing 737. Matyushev said Natilus is in talks with manufacturers to develop its own blended-wing capable engine.

He said building a new engine from scratch is too risky. Airbus' blended-wing concept would use zero-emission engines as it strives for a hydrogen-powered commercial airplane.

A blended-wing plane would have a much wider cabin than a traditional tube-and-wing design, meaning the rows could be more than a dozen people long.

JetZero said the cabin would allow for more efficient boarding and deplaning, and more carry-on baggage space would eliminate the need for pesky gate checks.

Nautilus said its wider cabin, which is uniquely planned with two levels, could be a nuisance for people stuck in the middle of the jet far away from windows. Still, it provides more legroom and opens up space for things like a kids' play area or a lounge.

Aircraft manufacturers don't want airlines or airports to have to spend a lot of money to accommodate a new jet type. The blended-wing plans are designed to fit into existing airport infrastructure.

JetZero, for example, said Pathfinder could fit into existing Airbus A330 gates, while Natlius said Horizon could fit into current narrowbody ones.

As of now, all of the full-scale commercial blended-wing concepts remain renderings, but demonstrators have been built to test and validate the technical specifications and performance of blended-wing designs.

Natilus' prototype is not for Horizon but for its cargo version called Kona, on which Horizon is based. Airbus and JetZero have also built demonstrators.

Airbus had a six-foot-long demonstrator called Maveric. It debuted in 2020 and was used to evaluate concepts like airport compatibility, maintenance, and safety, which would help with the development of ZEROe.

Airbus and Boeing have been the world's two major commercial aircraft manufacturers for generations. However, supply chain issues at both, plus Boeing's ongoing quality and production problems, may have opened the door for JetZero and Natilus.

"We decided to move into the narrowbody market because it's the biggest opportunity over the next 20 years," Matyushev said. "40,000 new narrowbody airplanes need to be built in that time, but Airbus and Boeing's capacity outlook shows they can only produce 15,000 each, so we want to fill that capacity."

JetZero said Pathfinder could replace Boeing 767s or similar traditional widebodies. The company has carrier attention, with Alaska Airlines announcing an investment in August.

JetZero, Natilus, and Airbus are shooting for entry to service in the 2030s, meaning the reality of blended-wing is still years away. And there are plenty of challenges.

One is ensuring the jet can withstand the expected load bearings. Another is convincing people to sit far from windows, but Matyushev said people would adapt to that if they had more space.

Airbus and JetZero face the complications of developing a hydrogen-powered engine type. Certifying a new plane type will also be long and tedious, with its own set of obstacles, including pilot training.

Larger blended-wing designs like JetZero's also have to consider evacuations, which could take longer with fewer exit rows.

While a blended-wing passenger plane is a relatively new concept, the aircraft type has been flying for the US military for decades.

Northrop Grumman's latest version is the long-range B-21 Raider stealth bomber, with which the US Air Force is conducting flight tests.

Its shape is similar to that of the B-2 bomber predecessor, which was first delivered to the USAF in 1993.