Airbus has announced major leadership changes to its commercial aircraft business, effective from July 1, 2025, as it focuses on developing new aircraft technologies for its next-gen aircraft, a successor to its popular Airbus A320neo aircraft.
In a LinkedIn post, the company announced that the current president of Airbus in India and South Asia Rémi Maillard has been appointed executive vice-president of engineering of Airbus’ commercial aircraft business. Maillard will be replacing Sabine Klauke.
Klauke has been moved to a newly created role known as the head of digital design manufacturing and services (DDMS) “Next Gen” where she will be looking forward to the development and implementation of these new technologies across Airbus’ divisions while reporting to the executive vice-president digital Catherine Jestin.
Klauke, in a separate LinkedIn post, described what her new role entailed. As head of digital design manufacturing and services “Next Gen,” Klauke will be focusing on the development and implementation of Airbus’ end-to-end digital value chain operations.
She said:
“This is a critical enabler for our next-generation programmes, and I’m looking forward to shaping this transformation across all divisions.”
Airbus has been focusing on developing new aircraft technologies as it develops its popular A320neo jetliner’s successor.
Most recently, the company provided a future roadmap for its commercial aviation business during the 2025 Airbus Summit. It talked about the technologies that it will be focusing on for the next-generation single-aisle aircraft that it expects to enter the market in the second half of the 2030s.
It expects to increase fuel efficiency by 20-30% along with the capability to fly with up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It also showcased new design concepts that it is studying for its future aircraft.
It focuses on technologies such as more efficient engines, “disruptive” open fan designs, and long foldable wings that could help with better aerodynamic gains. It is also developing new batteries for enabling hybrid architectures, using electricity to support propulsive and non-propulsive functions aboard the aircraft.
In its most recent annual report for investors, the company said:
Airbus also continues to invest in enhancing existing technologies and in pursuit of further breakthroughs, in search of incremental efficiency gains for its current products and to enable the launch of a next-generation single-aisle aircraft, targeted from the middle of the next decade.
The new leadership changes are meant to help the company shift gears towards this development. It is also to be noted that it has separated its technology and engineering divisions, with the former no longer being a part of its primary executive committee.
The French aerospace company launched the first member of the A320 family in March 1984. The aircraft line has been innovating with its New Engine Option (NEO) that is available for the A320 Family’s three largest versions: the A319neo, A320neo, and A321neo.
The NEO versions are equipped with “fuel-saving wingtip devices” known as ‘Sharklets’.
A320neo family aircraft also burn 20% less fuel compared to previous-generation aircraft. The A321XLR burns up to 30% less fuel. The NEO versions also have additional flight ranges and extra payload.
Have you ever flown on any of Airbus’ A320neo aircraft before? Let us know your experience in the comments!
News Editor - Hemani is an experienced journalist with a love for travel and aviation. Currently interning as a news editor, she is a graduate of the Erasmus Mundus Journalism Master's programme.
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