Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) and Air Nostrum Group (Hibernian Airlines, Ireland and Mel Air, Malta), have agreed to double the number of Airlander 10 under reservation, to a total of 20 aircraft.
Under the initial agreement, announced in June 2022, Air Nostrum Group had reserved ten Airlander 10 aircraft, with a 100-passenger configuration. Under the new agreement, Air Nostrum Group has reserved a further ten Airlander aircraft to underpin expansion of the Airlander network from Spain into the Mediterranean region, including Malta.
With the first Airlander 10 services planned within five years, additional potential route networks for Airlander aircraft were recently presented by leaders from both Mel Air and Hybrid Air Vehicles to Transport Malta. Discussions included the advantages of Airlander's potential land and water-based operations for routes including Malta-Gozo, Malta-Sicily, and other key links with Italy, Tunisia, and Libya.
Air Nostrum has also joined the Airlander 50 Development Partner Programme, becoming the first commercial airline partner in that project.
Airlander 50 is designed to accommodate a 50-tonne payload, and will address the future of freight, moving cargo or people point-to-point with minimal infrastructure and a low environmental impact. The Airlander 50 Development Partner Programme enables key partners and future Airlander 50 customers to influence and enhance Hybrid Air Vehicles' Airlander 50 specification.
In March 2023, Hybrid Air Vehicles and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority of the UK, led by Mayor Oliver Coppard, announced a £7m investment into plans to deliver production of Airlander 10 aircraft in the region. The plans will enable the creation of over 1,200 highly skilled jobs and thriving new supply chains.
“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 ten to 50 tonnes of payload starting with 100 passengers on the Airlander 10, all in an environment of great passenger comfort. These are just some critical factors that make the Airlander an excellent aircraft for regional flights.” comments Miguel Ángel Falcón, Chairman of Mel Air and Vice President of Air Nostrum.
