Air Nostrum Group - the parent of Air Nostrum (YW, Valencia Manises) - has doubled to 20 the number of Airlander 10 airships it has reserved from UK-based developer Hybrid Air Vehicles (Cranfield) (HAV), the companies announced.
With the bigger order, the airline group, which also includes Hibernian Airlines (HG, Dublin International) and Mel Air (5M, Malta International), aims to expand its Airlander network from Spain to the Mediterranean region, including Malta. Under the initial agreement announced in June 2022, Air Nostrum Group had ordered ten of the 100-passenger airships.
The first Airlander 10 flights are set to begin within five years. Mel Air and Hybrid Air Vehicles have presented potential routes to Transport Malta, considering advantages like the aircraft's land and water-based operations capability. Routes discussed include connections between Malta International and Gozo, Malta and Sicily, and links to Italy, Tunisia, and Libya.
Additionally, Air Nostrum has become a partner in the Airlander 50 Development Partner Programme, which focuses on a larger aircraft capable of carrying a 50-tonne payload. This aircraft is designed for efficient, environmentally friendly, point-to-point freight and passenger transport with minimal infrastructure.
In March 2023, Hybrid Air Vehicles and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority in the UK announced a GBP7 million pound (USD8.8 million) investment to establish Airlander 10 aircraft production in the region. The move is expected to create over 1,200 skilled jobs and stimulate new supply chains.
