Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the Airlander 10! The UK-based company behind it, Hybrid Air Vehicles, is already calling it “the future of zero-carbon aviation,” but we’re just as impressed by its luxury look. We won’t have too long to wait to climb aboard either – the blimp-like aircraft looks to travel to the Mediterranean, the Arctic and the Orkney Islands as early as 2028.
The world’s largest aircraft measures over 91 metres (300 feet), and can carry up to 100 passengers. That’s 89 fewer passengers than the Boeing planes most of us are used to, but with a focus on comfy chairs with ample legroom, and a 75% CO2 reduction in emissions, it’s a trade-off we’re willing to accept. By 2028, that number should be a 90% reduction, and 100% by 2030 for a fully electric, zero-emissions Airlander 10.
It’s not just about saving the planet either (even if there’s no luxury lifestyle on a dead planet). It’s been described as a “superyacht in the sky,” and can stay in the air for up to five days for one-of-a-kind sightseeing trips. Airlander 10 will be able to offer inflight WiFi and onboard, private suites for when you go Instagram live over the North Pole…
What are the benefits of Airlander 10?
Airlander 10 (which also has the nickname, The Flying Bum) utilises a mix of combustion engines and electric motors, as well as aerodynamic and aerostatic lift to fly. We don’t understand its design completely (you can learn more here), but think of it as part aeroplane, part helium aircraft and part helicopter.
That combination achieves far fewer emissions from the hybrid aircraft than rival aeroplanes. What’s even more impressive is that Hybrid Air Vehicles claims it can do so while keeping it “at a similar price as other modes of transport”. We’ll have to wait until 2028 to see about that…
Something we won’t argue with is its incredible views. Airlander 10 will fly lower than conventional aeroplanes while floor-to-ceiling windows will offer passengers breathtaking views of the world below. Plus, with all that extra room, everyone essentially has an aisle seat, and it can also offer better disabled access.
There are also benefits for travel companies, with Airlander’s cabin design making it flexible for both luxury overnight expeditions and 100-passenger local flights. On top of that, it will offer streamlined, ‘point-to-point travel’ by removing connections, waiting times and traditional transport infrastructure (maybe that’s how they’ll keep prices low?)
Where will I be able to travel in 2028?
The future is four years away it seems… That’s only until the next Olympics in Los Angeles. Hybrid Air Vehicles, with a production facility for the Airlander 10 in Doncaster (capable of producing up to 24 aircraft per year), has already signed several contracts for its commercial use in 2028. The latest of these is with the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS)
HITRANS has reserved six Airlander 10 aircraft for regional passenger and freight transport use in Scotland – covering the remote areas of Na h-Eileanan Siar, Highland, Moray, Orkney Islands and Argyll and Bute. The use of Airlander 10 will also support the region’s goals of net-zero air transport by 2045.
Meanwhile, Grands Espaces has agreed to use the aircraft to embark on unique expeditions in less-explored regions of the world, including within the Arctic region – which is where ‘point-to-point travel’ comes in handy we imagine – focusing on low-impact trips and connecting with local communities.
Finally, the Spanish regional airline Air Nostrum (which also includes Hibernian Airlines in Ireland and Mel Air in Malta) has agreed to a total of 20 aircraft. This not only means flights to Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca, but Malta, Gozo, and Sicily, and other key links with Italy, Tunisia, and Libya too.
That’s unlikely to be the end of it either, as HAV has recently become a member of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA). This will open new doors into the European market and propel Airlander 10 even higher into our skies. We’ll see you in 2028…