Europe’s first all-electric international flights open to public
Maastricht Aachen Airport, in the south of the Netherlands, is to host the first publicly accessible electric powered flights between the country and neighbouring Belgium and Germany.
The Electrifly project will also trial door-to-door electric transportation, in a collaboration between airports in Maastricht, Liege, and Aachen alongside Fachhochschule Aachen, a European centre for aerospace and engineering alongside; ASL Group, a business aviation operator also providing ground handling services and a flight school, and electric road vehicle manufacturer NIO.
The flights, available to book now, will be conducted using a two-seater Pipistrel Velis Electro. All flights offered are based on the EASA cost-sharing principle, with the cost shared between the pilot and passengers.
Jonas van Stekelenburg, CEO Maastricht Airport said: “The Electrifly project is a huge step forward in our mission to facilitate zero-emission flights available for the public, opening the door to sustainable air links between regional airports and partnerships with mobility and aviation partners who strive for the same goals regarding zero-emission transportation.
“Anyone pursuing this goal is welcome at our airport, this innovative partnership is a spectacular achievement for Euregio and underlines our belief that MST is the perfect location and facility for testing and developing eAviation.”
NIO is overseeing the electric door-to-door taxi service element of the project. It will take passengers from the airport to their final destination within a 15km radius of the airports.
Ruben Keuter, general manager, NIO, Netherlands said: “NIO is proud to be able to provide the emission free limousine service from door to airport and airport to destination in this amazing project. Electrifly and NIO share the same goal – to provide a cleaner future for next generations – and both are groundbreaking in bringing new technologies to the market; the future is here.”
From 1st July to 31st August, flights will be open to the public by way of registering interest here and/or via the Überland app developed by the Fachhochschule Aachen.
