Hybrid Air Vehicles announces launch customer for Airlander 10

Deliveries of HAV’s hybrid aircraft are expected from 2026 with production planned to take place in South Yorkshire, a development expected to create thousands of skilled jobs.

In a statement, Tom Grundy, CEO of  HAV said: “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.”

Airlander 10 is a hybrid aircraft that relies on a combination of buoyant lift from helium like an airship, aerodynamic lift like an aeroplane and vectored thrust like a helicopter. The company said the aircraft generates up to 40 per cent of its lift from aerodynamics by the passage of air over the hull and the remainder from buoyant lift from the helium. At lower speed and closer to the ground, vectoring engine power is used to provide additional lift and manoeuvrability for take-off, landing and ground handling.

Airlander 10 aircraft are expected to diversify and complement Air Nostrum Group’s existing aircraft fleet currently operating in Spanish domestic aviation routes, carrying 100 passengers while producing only around one tenth of emissions.

Carlos Bertomeu, Air Nostrum’s president, 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.” 

The reservation agreement follows six months of rigorous studies and modelling carried out by Air Nostrum Group and HAV into the operation of Airlander 10 on Spanish domestic aviation routes and the associated economics. Airlander 10 aircraft are expected to diversify and complement Air Nostrum Group’s existing aircraft fleet currently operating on these routes, carrying 100 passengers while producing only around one tenth of the harmful emissions.

HAV said it is in advanced discussions with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Doncaster Council and other local and national stakeholders on plans to manufacture Airlander 10s within a new green aerospace manufacturing cluster in South Yorkshire.