Electric flights are coming to Europe this summer, allowing members of the public to experience zero-emissions air travel. These flights will be available for booking for a two-month trial period between July 1 and August 31. The trips will be international, operating between airports in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany with flight times ranging from 16 to 26 minutes. However, there are some restrictions, including the use of very small two-seater aircraft that can only accommodate a pilot and one passenger, with a weight limit of 178 kilograms.
The Electrifly project, behind these electric flights, includes collaborations between three European airports, a university, an aviation operator, and an electric car company. The consortium aims to showcase the potential of electric aviation for future travel wherein passengers can connect between European hubs using low or zero-emission aircraft. While Electrifly is not the first electric aircraft operator, it claims to be the first to fly passengers cross-border on an electric plane. The single trip cost for these flights is €120 with a return journey option available for €160, based on a cost-sharing model between the pilot and passenger.
The Pipistrel Velis Electro plane used for these electric flights was certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in 2020, making it the only electric plane approved by the regulator. Apart from these European flights, there are other global projects underway exploring the use of hybrid or all-electric aircraft, including proposals in Dubai for vertical take-off and landing aircraft. On the ground, NIO vehicles will assist in providing “door-to-door electric transportation” for passengers going to and from the airports within a 15-kilometer radius. After the two-month trial period, the success of the project will be evaluated to determine the possibility of future tests and pilots with different circumstances or equipment.
Despite its limitations, the CEO of Maastricht Aachen Airport sees the Electrifly project as a preview of the future of aviation and an opportunity to test next-generation technology. Interested passengers can book these electric flights through the Electrifly website. In terms of the airlines sector, the Skift Travel 200 (ST200) tracks the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies globally, including airline sector stocks within the index. It provides insight into the financial health and performance of network carriers, low-cost carriers, and other related companies in the industry.
