Airbus and QC Ware Explore Quantum Algorithms for Air Cargo Routing Optimization

Quantum Algorithms Take Flight in Global Cargo

Air cargo logistics is a cornerstone of high-speed global trade. Yet its optimization remains challenging due to complex airspace regulations, changing weather conditions, weight constraints, time-sensitive cargo, and environmental considerations.

In September 2021, Airbus and QC Ware announced the completion of a six-month pilot under Airbus's Quantum Technology Initiative. The project’s central goal: explore how quantum algorithms could help solve air cargo routing problems that are notoriously difficult for classical systems, especially during peak congestion or emergencies.

Problem Scope: NP-Hard Meets Real World

Air cargo routing involves solving variations of the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) and the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP)—both NP-hard. When additional constraints are introduced, such as:

• Airport slot restrictions

• Aircraft-specific load balancing

• Hazmat regulations

• Cross-modal connections (e.g., air-to-road logistics)

…the solution space grows exponentially.

Airbus and QC Ware aimed to encode these problems into quantum-amenable formats and explore whether quantum algorithms—specifically quantum approximate optimization algorithms (QAOA) and variational quantum circuits—could find better solutions faster than classical heuristics.

Use Case: Europe-to-Asia Multi-Stop Cargo Routing

The pilot project focused on a real-world simulation of Airbus Cargo operations involving:

• A wide-body freighter departing from Frankfurt

• Cargo deliveries at multiple Asian hubs (e.g., Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore)

• Backhaul routing for aircraft efficiency

• Coordinated truck handoffs at hub destinations

The objective was to find an optimal route balancing fuel burn, carbon emissions, delivery timing, and airport slot availability—all under dynamic real-time conditions.

QC Ware’s Role and Quantum Workflow

QC Ware, a Palo Alto and Paris-based quantum software firm, contributed expertise in hybrid algorithms and quantum-classical co-processing. Their approach included:

1. Problem Encoding: Transforming the routing constraints into QUBO (Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization) format.

2. Solver Deployment: Running the problems on simulators and early hardware (D-Wave Advantage and IonQ trapped ion devices).

3. Result Validation: Comparing outcomes with Airbus’s existing optimization stack built on mixed-integer linear programming (MILP).

Their internal toolkit, Forge, was used to model the air cargo routing scenario and translate it into quantum workflows.

Key Findings from the September 2021 Report

The feasibility study delivered several critical insights:

• Fuel efficiency gains of up to 4.2% in route planning during moderate traffic conditions compared to classical heuristics.

• Improved resilience in scheduling under disruptions (e.g., last-minute cargo adds, airport slot losses).

• Quantum-enhanced dynamic re-routing, which allowed the simulation to reoptimize in near-real time based on simulated weather disturbances.

While the algorithms didn't yet outperform classical solvers in all cases, they consistently found more flexible routing solutions, offering better trade-offs between speed, cost, and emissions.

Industry Implications: Toward Quantum-Aware Aviation

The Airbus-QC Ware pilot marks one of the first known attempts to apply quantum computing to commercial aviation logistics. As part of the broader Quantum for Aviation Logistics (Q4AL) initiative under Airbus’s innovation strategy, the pilot reflects a multi-decade vision where:

• Quantum processors assist flight dispatchers and cargo planners

• Real-time scheduling integrates quantum routing with AI weather forecasts

• Carbon-efficient flight plans are co-optimized with regulatory and delivery constraints

This approach may significantly benefit freight-dense aviation sectors, such as:

• Medical supply airlifts

• Cross-border e-commerce shipments

• Cold chain cargo requiring precise delivery timing

Integration Challenges and Lessons Learned

The study also revealed multiple technical and operational challenges:

• Quantum noise: Hardware fidelity remains a limiting factor, especially for large QUBOs.

• Result interpretability: Some quantum outputs required significant post-processing to be actionable.

• Latency: While solvers showed strong theoretical potential, end-to-end integration into Airbus’s live systems needs streamlining.

To address this, Airbus plans to invest in a quantum middleware layer—capable of translating between logistics objectives and evolving quantum architectures.

Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Building

The September 2021 report coincided with broader moves in quantum aviation:

• Airbus's collaboration with Pasqal on quantum simulation for aerodynamics

• Lufthansa Industry Solutions exploring quantum-safe communication for flight dispatch

• Singapore Airlines’ cargo division joining Asia Quantum Consortium for joint research in logistics quantumization

Meanwhile, QC Ware continues working with other transport firms, including FedEx and DB Schenker, to generalize its algorithms across multiple cargo domains.

Next Steps: Scaling Beyond Simulation

With simulation success achieved, Airbus’s quantum team announced plans to:

• Conduct small-scale live trials on intra-European cargo routes by 2023

• Partner with national aviation regulators to ensure quantum-assisted routing meets compliance standards

• Invest in quantum-augmented digital twins of entire cargo routes, from warehouse to final delivery

Airbus’s long-term vision includes making quantum flight routing modules available as part of its Skywise platform, opening them to broader logistics ecosystems.

Conclusion: Air Cargo Joins the Quantum Logistics Frontier

As of September 2021, Airbus and QC Ware’s joint pilot provides a compelling look at how quantum computing may eventually transform air cargo logistics. While commercial deployment remains years away, their work shows how even today’s noisy quantum devices can bring measurable value in highly constrained, mission-critical operations.

For an industry defined by timing, complexity, and cost optimization, quantum technologies could soon become a powerful tool for future-ready cargo planning.