Horizon Evo switches to dual-deck redesign

Feedback from regulators and airline customers has led to a reshaping of the blended-wing-body aircraft ahead of planned early-2030s service entry.

Natilus has reconfigured its Horizon Evo passenger aircraft into a dual-deck blended-wing-body design.

The U.S.-based manufacturer revised the layout following discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration and global carrier customers. The updated configuration replaces the previous single-deck concept and is intended to strengthen certifiability, operational practicality and passenger experience.

The new layout features a dedicated passenger cabin on the upper deck and a lower deck capable of accommodating standard cargo containers. Natilus says the aircraft maintains interoperability with existing airport ground infrastructure while introducing improvements in overhead storage, window provision and emergency egress.

“In our ongoing conversations with the FAA and customers, there's real excitement around what our new airframe brings, not only in terms of fuel economics, but in addressing some of the recent and real pain points happening in aviation today around safety, passenger experience, and plane shortages,” says Aleksey Matyushev, co-founder and CEO of Natilus. “These airline-validated insights really drove the design enhancements around dual-deck practicality, egress certifiability, and turnaround times and put us on a clear path to commercial certification.”