This Airline Could Be First To Fly You Via Helium-Powered ‘Blimps’

Spain’s Air Nostrum could embark on the first helium-powered flight in a partnership with Hybrid Air Vehicles. The blimp-looking aircraft, called Airlander 10, will only emit one-tenth of the carbon emissions that a commercial plane would.  

Hybrid Air Vehicles, the British manufacturer, has signed a deal with Air Nostrum to produce 10 Airlanders to add to its fleet from 2026 onwards where they will be used for domestic flights.  

The aircraft has a hull filled with helium and will have a combination of electric and fuel engines that will propel it. It plans to go fully electric by 2030.

The blimp-like structure is able to stay up in the air for five days and can travel over 4300 miles at a speed of 80 miles per hour. While not as quick as commercial jets, it's definitely an environmentally-conscious option when traveling domestically.  

The helium-powered plane can sit up to 100 passengers and, due to its size, provides more room than a normal plane would. Hopefully, this would encourage more people to travel on this new aircraft.

Introduced last year, the aircraft was set to take off in 2025. Air Nostrum will be its first partnership airline to acquire the planes. 

As far as options go to create a future-proof solution for the flying industry, the introduction of helium-powered aircraft main not be the quickest solution but it's definitely a move in the right direction. However, the Airlanders are still under development and are awaiting certification of approval before its launch into the market. 

[via CNA and Business Times, cover image via Hybrid Air Vehicles]