Spanish airline Air Nostrum has given a double boost to British airships doubling its order from 10 to 20 and putting flights from the mainland to Mallorca on the horizon. With ability to land on and take off vertically from grass fields and water, Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) markets Airlander 10 as suitable for a variety of roles, including cargo, surveillance, regional transport and VIP travel. Its first three production slots are reserved for unnamed luxury tourism operators.
Air Nostrum believes that the Airlander 10 is an ideal vehicle to bring tourists from the mainland to Mallorca and the other Balearics Islands. The airships are so versatile they can even land on the beach or on water. It could mean that tourists could be taken straight to the beach.
In March, HAV announced plans to build Airlander 10 in Doncaster, UK with help from a £7 million ($8.5 million) loan from the local authority.
HAV plans to deliver its first aircraft in 2026 and to be producing 10 aircraft per year by the end of the decade.