Air Nostrum has become the first airline to express an interest in the Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) Airlander 10 airship. The firm has ‘reserved’ a fleet of 10 of the airships, and will become the launch customer of the technology.

The HAV Airlander 10 seats up to 100 people and can spend up to five days airborne. It can cover up to 4,000 NM at a maximum altitude of 20,000 feet, and is designed to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to similar aircraft.

Air Nostrum is anticipating taking delivery of the first Airlander 10 in 2026, with a view to operating regional routes around Spain with the aircraft. Speaking about the order, Carlos Beromeu, President of Air Nostrum commented,

“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. Sustainability, which is good news for everyone, is already a non-negotiable fact in the daily operations of commercial aviation. Agreements such as these are a very effective way to reach the de-carbonization targets contemplated in the Fit for 55 legislative initiative.”

Air-Nostrum-Airlander-cabin-1
Air Nostrum will use the Airlander 10 on regional routes. Photo: Hybrid Air Vehicles

Nostrum’s largest aircraft

At present, Air Nostrum operates a fleet of just shy of 50 aircraft, according to ch-aviation.com. The main fleet type is the CRJ, with 36 units spread across the CRJ1000ER, 200ER, 200LR and 900. It also has 11 ATR-72 turboprops. With a total of 27 CRJ1000ERs, Air Nostrum is by far the world’s largest operator of this 100-seat regional plane.

The HAV Airlander 10 would therefore become jointly the largest aircraft in the fleet, with a capacity for up to 100 passengers.

Tom Grundy, the CEO of Hybrid Air Vehicles, commented,

“Airlander is designed to deliver a better future for sustainable aviation services, enable new transport networks and provide rapid growth options for our customers. Our partnership with Air Nostrum Group, as the launch Airline for Airlander 10, leads the way towards that future.

“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.”

Air Nostrum CRJ1000
Air Nostrum is the world's largest operator of the CRJ1000. Photo: Getty Images

Flown in Spain, made in the UK

Although the Airlander 10’s launch customer will be Spanish, the aircraft itself is very much a British development. Hybrid Air Vehicles have been working on designs for the Airlander 10 since 2007, when it took over the SkyCat Group. Establishing itself at Cardington Airfield in Bedfordshire, just north of London, the firm is now looking to set up manufacturing facilities somewhat further north.

HAV is in discussions with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Doncaster Council and other local and national stakeholders regarding their factory location. It is hoped that the Airlander 10s will be built in a green aerospace manufacturing cluster in South Yorkshire.

airlander-foggy-forest-original
Air Nostrum expects to begin operating the Airlander 10 in 2026. Photo: Hybrid Air Vehicles

The UK’s business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said,

“Hybrid aircraft could play an important role as we transition to cleaner forms of aviation, and it is wonderful to see the UK right at the forefront of the technology’s development.

“This agreement enhances the possibility of the revolutionary, British-made and designed, Airlander 10 aircraft flying across Spanish skies. It is more proof of how the UK’s businesses are embracing new technology to drive growth and support high skilled UK jobs.”

Despite some setbacks with the project, notably a crash landing during a test flight in 2017, the firm is still on track to go into production in 2025.