The National: Eco-friendly airship aims to operate flights by 2025
The hybrid aircraft will slash CO2 emissions by 90% on intercity air travel from Liverpool, Seattle, Barcelona, Oslo and more
Airlander 10, by Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), is a 100-passenger airship that runs on helium and electricity and is capable of flying at speeds of up to 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph), and being airborne for five (5) continuous days.
The English company is aiming to launch the hybrid-electric Airlander 10 by 2025, and has released details of possible routes for the vehicle, including city centre to city centre journeys from Liverpool to Belfast, Seattle to Vancouver, Barcelona to Palma, and Oslo to Stockholm.
With a maximum cruising height of 20,000 feet, the airship will typically fly at lower altitudes than a traditionally aircraft, giving passengers a more interesting vantage of Earth from the sky. Turbulence is also reduced due to the airship’s nearly 100-metres long (328’ long) hull. The company has committed to being 100% carbon-free by 2030, when all four engines on Airlander crafts will be entirely electric.
HAV has signed a deal to deliver an airship to Swedish travel company OceanSky Cruises, which plans to use the vehicle to offer trips over the North Pole. Before launching the Airlander 10 commercially, HAV is in talks with airlines who will be the ones operating the vehicles.
Already approved by The European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa), Airlander will have a Civil Aviation Authority certificate before it takes flight with passengers on board.
