Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) is to host the first publicly accessible electric powered flights between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany having successfully facilitated a joint venture initiative.
The Electrifly project will also trial door-to-door electric transportation, in a collaboration between airports in Maastricht, Liege, and Aachen; FH Aachen, leading European centre for Aerospace and Engineering alongside; ASL Group (ASL), a business aviation operator also providing ground handling services and a flight school, and NIO, expert manufacturer of electric road vehicles.
The pioneering flights, available to book now, will represent a vision of the future of eAviation for passengers between major international hubs in Europe.
“The Electrifly project is a glimpse into the future of aviation and an open invitation to all kind of parties who want to develop the future of eAviation to do so at Maastricht Aachen Airport,” said Jonas van Stekelenburg, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), MST.
“It is a huge step forward in MST’s 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.
“I would like to applaud the tireless, dedicated, and professional contribution that FH, ASL and NIO have made toward this project, and we hope to work on similar projects in the future with FH, ASL, NIO and other parties who can accelerate the development of eAviation.”
NIO has enhanced Electrify’s service by offering an electric door-to-door taxi service, completing the journey, and making it an interconnected, international, all electric route in the air and on the ground.
“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,” said Ruben Keuter, General Manager, NIO, Netherlands.
“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!”
FH, ASL, and NIO will be providing between them the aircraft, and limousines– with the latter travelling to and from the airports in a 15 km radius.
From 1st July to 31st August 2024, flights in an electric two-seater Pipistrel aircraft between the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium will be open to the public by way of registering interest via the website www.electrifly.store (open from 1st June) and/or via the Überland app developed by the Fachhochschule Aachen (FH) for this purpose.
All flights offered are based on the EASA cost-sharing principle, with the cost shared between the pilot and passengers.
