A company manufacturing low carbon aircraft in South Yorkshire has received a new order from Air Nostrum Group.
The European airline had already reserved 10 Airlander 10 aircraft from Hybrid Air Vehicles and has now doubled it.
Air Nostrum Group has also joined the Airlander 50 programme – a new plane designed to accommodate a 50-tonne payload, to carry freight, cargo or people with a lower environmental impact.
“Our growing partnership with Air Nostrum Group continues to demonstrate leadership towards the future of flight, and revolutionising how we fly,” explained Tom Grundy CEO, Hybrid Air Vehicles.
“Airlander is designed to deliver a better future for commercially appealing and truly sustainable aviation services, by enabling new transport services and better growth options for our customers. Airlander 10 will make this possible by 2027, and Airlander 50 will build on it. We’re so pleased to have doubled Air Nostrum’s reservation to 20 aircraft, and to have its backing for our journey and support for our Airlander 50 Development Programme.”
Earlier this year, HAV said that it planned to build the new technology in Doncaster, after a £7m loan was approved by South Yorkshire’s mayor.
The first of its Airlander 10 aircraft is set to be completed by 2026, with plans to build 12 in Doncaster every year.
The company stated that the ultra-low emission technology on Airlander 10 would be capable of carrying 100 passengers or 10 tonnes of freight, with “90% fewer per passenger emissions in flight.”
Air Nostrum Group, which includes Hibernian Airlines in Ireland and Mel Air in Malta, plans to use the new planes to expand its network from Spain into the Mediterranean region, including Malta.
“There are many factors that motivate us in flying Airlander, including a very low fuel consumption, bringing great ecological and economic benefits; the high operational versatility of being able to take-off and land on land and water; the family concept offering from 10 to 50 tonnes of payload starting with 100 passengers on the Airlander 10, all in an environment of great passenger comfort,” said Miguel Ángel Falcón Chairman of Mel Air and Vice President of Air Nostrum.
“These are just some critical factors that make the Airlander an excellent aircraft for regional flights.”
