Composite Suppliers Position for Airbus and Boeing’s Next-Generation Narrowbody Programs

Updated on June 18, 2026 • 5 min read

The aerospace composites industry is entering what many suppliers describe as a once-in-a-generation opportunity as Airbus and Boeing evaluate future single-aisle aircraft that could feature significantly higher composite content than today’s narrowbody fleets.

While launch timelines remain uncertain, suppliers including Aernnova, Daher, Latecoere, Montana Aerospace, Saab and Hexcel are already developing advanced manufacturing technologies, automation strategies and next-generation composite solutions aimed at securing positions on future aircraft programs.

Composites Expected to Play Larger Role

Industry participants broadly agree that composite materials are likely to become the baseline solution for future narrowbody wing structures.

Airbus’ internal Next Generation Single Aisle (NGSA) program is widely expected to adopt composite wings, building on lessons from the company’s Wing of Tomorrow technology demonstrator.

Today, composites account for roughly:

• 15% of Airbus A320 weight
• 53% of Airbus A350 weight

According to Hexcel, next-generation composite technologies could reduce aerostructure weight by:

• 10% compared with previous composite generations
• 20–30% compared with metallic structures

The potential weight savings become increasingly important as manufacturers pursue lower emissions, improved fuel efficiency and greater operating economics.

Automation Emerging as Critical Factor

Beyond material selection, manufacturers are increasingly focused on production efficiency.

Future narrowbody programs are expected to target production rates exceeding 100 aircraft per month, making manufacturability as important as structural performance.

Suppliers are investing heavily in:

• Flexible automation
• Digital manufacturing
• AI-assisted production monitoring
• Automated fiber placement (AFP)
• Advanced quality control systems

Saab believes future composite manufacturing will require a fundamentally different mindset focused on production scalability and traceability rather than traditional aerospace production rates.

Thermoplastics Gain Momentum

Thermoplastic composites continue to attract attention because of their manufacturing advantages.

Compared with traditional thermoset composites, thermoplastics offer:

• Faster production cycles
• Stamp forming capability
• Reduced post-processing
• Welding instead of mechanical fastening
• Potential cost reductions at high production rates

Daher currently produces thermoplastic pylon fairings for the Airbus A320 and is participating in development programs aimed at producing much larger stamped structures.

Meanwhile, Hexcel is pursuing fast-cure thermoset technologies that could narrow the production gap between the two material systems.

Hybrid Structures Gain Interest

Several suppliers are also exploring hybrid metal-composite solutions.

Montana Aerospace has been developing structures that combine:

• Composite performance benefits
• Metallic durability
• Manufacturing efficiency
• Lower production costs

The company has already delivered hybrid structures for Airbus Wing of Tomorrow development activities and continues work on next-generation propulsion-related composite assemblies.

Industry Faces Investment Challenge

The opportunity comes at a time when the aerostructures sector continues to navigate supply chain restructuring and margin pressures.

The ongoing integration of Spirit AeroSystems assets into Airbus and Boeing operations is expected to reshape supplier relationships and workshare allocations across the industry.

At the same time, suppliers face pressure to invest in future technologies while managing existing production commitments and profitability challenges.

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This article is developed based on real engineering experience, machine testing data, and practical production knowledge from Jota Machinery’s work in advanced composite manufacturing.

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Perspective: Designing for Composites, Not Replacing Metal

Perhaps the most significant shift is philosophical rather than technological.

According to Hexcel executives, aircraft manufacturers have historically used composites primarily as lightweight replacements for metallic structures. Future aircraft may instead be designed specifically around composite capabilities from the outset.

This approach would leverage:

• Anisotropic material behavior
• Greater shape flexibility
• Integrated structures
• Reduced part counts
• Advanced aerodynamic concepts

Rather than creating “black metal” versions of existing aircraft designs, engineers may increasingly develop airframes optimized specifically for composite materials.

Outlook

As Airbus moves closer to a potential NGSA launch and Boeing evaluates its own future narrowbody strategy, suppliers are positioning themselves for what many view as the industry’s most important composite opportunity since the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 programs.

The next generation of single-aisle aircraft is likely to be defined not only by greater composite content, but by automated manufacturing, hybrid structures, advanced thermoplastics and entirely new design philosophies that maximize the unique advantages of composite materials.

If these technologies mature as expected, future narrowbodies could feature composite content exceeding 60% of the airframe while being manufactured at rates never previously achieved in commercial aviation.