British Airways Trials 3D Printing

British Airways is exploring the possibility of using 3D printers to create aircraft parts in the future.

The 3D printers would be located at airports around the world to reduce delays for customers and emissions caused by transporting items.

The airline’s innovators predict that non-essential cabin parts will be first on the list to be generated, including pieces of tray tables, entertainment systems and toilets.

While those components do not impact the safe operation of the flight, they can reduce the number of seats or toilets available for customers, and cause delays as engineers wait for the parts to be flown to wherever the aircraft is.

Ricardo Vidal, Head of Innovation at British Airways, said this area of technology has never been more important to ensure sustainability and a seamless travel experience.

“We work with start-ups and innovation partners from around the world to explore and implement the very latest technologies, from artificial intelligence to speed up turnaround times to biometrics, helping us to deliver a seamless airport experience for customers. 3D printing is yet another advancement that will keep us at the forefront of airline innovation,” he said.

3D printers can produce parts that, while as strong and durable as traditional components, weigh up to 55 per cent less. Every kilogram removed saves up to 25 tons of CO2 emissions during the lifespan of an aircraft.

British Airways’ top ten predictions for how 3D printing could be used by airline’s in the future:

1. Cutlery
2. Products for amenity kits, such as toothbrushes or combs
3. Tray tables
4. Aircraft windows
5. Inflight entertainment screens
6. Seats
7. Baggage containers
8. Circuit boards for electrical components
9. Flight deck switches
10. Aircraft shells

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