Tourist airships to take to the skies over Spain in 2026
6 July, 2022Helium airships will carry tourists over Spain in 2026 thanks to the airline Air Nostrum. The Airlander 10 model is now set to take to the skies after an agreement with the British company Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) was signed, marking a milestone in the transition towards non-polluting and sustainable aviation.
According to the airline, its fleet will comprise a total of 10 airships, a number they hope to reach within five years of starting operations. The aim is to use the airships, which hark back to the early days of aviation, to cover as many of Air Nostrum’s current routes within Spain as possible.
The Airlander 10 has a capacity for 100 passengers, who will travel in a cabin that doesn’t need to be pressurised, as it flies much lower than jets, and will be able to touch down on both land and water without the need for large spaces. It can travel at 130 kilometres per hour and has a flight range of up to 3,700 kilometres.
With helium (which is non-flammable) as its lifting gas, emissions will be reduced by 90% compared to conventional aircrafts, making it an important mode of transport in the fight against climate change. The Airlander 10 will have the same certification as commercial aircrafts with regulatory bodies around the world.