Airbus Bets Microsoft Mixed Reality Will Boost Aircraft Production

Airbus, one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers, announced Monday it plans to ramp up production in coming decades with help from hologram-based virtual reality technology developed by Microsoft. Netherlands-based Airbus says it will equip some of its aircraft and equipment designers with HoloLens technology developed by Redmond, WA-based Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). The HoloLens system encompasses a “mixed reality” headset that brings interactive holograms to life in the real environment of users. Airbus has been in business for more than four decades, and says it has built about 10,000 aircraft in that time. Now, the company is aiming to build 20,000 aircraft over the next 20 years, and Airbus says holographic technology will be key to helping its employees hit that target.