Air Nostrum Group has reserved 10 Hybrid Air Vehicles’ Airlander 10 aircraft, and will become the launch customer for the vehicle type. The 100-seat hybrid airship is expected to be delivered from 2026, hoping to become the world’s first large-scale zero emissions aircraft.
On Wednesday (June 15, 2022), Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) announced that Spanish carrier Air Nostrum has reserved ten Airlander 10 airships and will become the airline launch customer for the airship with deliveries expected from 2026. The Airlander 10 will accommodate up to 100 passengers, and Air Nostrum will initially deploy the aircraft on regional routes across Spain, cutting emissions by up to 90 percent. HAV plans on launching production of the airship this year in South Yorkshire UK, hoping to deliver the first large-scale aircraft to deliver zero-emissions flight.
In Wednesday’s announcement, Air Nostrum’s President, Carlos Berto, said,
“We are exploring each and every possible way to reduce our carbon footprint. This is something that we have been doing for many years. The Airlander 10 will drastically reduce emissions and for that reason we have made this agreement with HAV. Sustainability, which is good news for everyone, is already a non-negotiable fact in the daily operations of commercial aviation. Agreements such as these are a very effective way to reach the de-carbonization targets contemplated in the Fit for 55 legislative initiative.”
Also commenting on the milestone partnership, Hybrid Air Vehicles’ CEO, Tom Grundy, added,
Airlander is designed to deliver a better future for sustainable aviation services, enable new transport networks and provide rapid growth options for our customers. Our partnership with Air Nostrum Group, as the launch airline for Airlander 10, leads the way towards that future. As countries like France, Denmark, Norway, Spain and the UK begin to put in place ambitious mandates for the decarbonisation of domestic and short haul flight, Hybrid Air Vehicles and Air Nostrum Group are demonstrating how we can get there – and get there soon.
Hybrid Air Vehicles' Airlander 10 Cabin Renderings - Courtesy Hybrid Air Vehicles
The Air Nostrum Group includes different companies related to air transport and mobility including airlines, high speed rail and firefighting, as well as related maintenance, training and flight support services. The Group’s flagship airline, Air Nostrum Líneas Aereas, operates over 70,000 flights annually, carrying around 4.7 million passengers. The carrier operates for the Iberia Group under the Iberia Regional Air Nostrum brand and employs over 1,400 team members, delivering revenues of more than €500 million per annum.
Source: Hybrid Air Vehicles