Dutch aviation startup Vlindair, which is aiming to become Europe’s first all-electric passenger airline, announces the exploration of a green corridor connecting the Netherlands and the United Kingdom with the first generation of nine-seater electric aircraft. The announcement follows the joint statement focusing on zero-emission aviation from the Dutch and UK governments, signed in Liverpool earlier today.
[Photo: Joe Delafield, Lieske Streefkerk-Arts]
The announcement comes as professionals from the UK and the Netherlands meet for a three-day trade mission in Liverpool, organised by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. The mission is attended by Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and Minister Vincent Karremans of Infrastructure, coinciding with the working visit of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander.
During the trade mission, Vlindair spoke with airports, airlines and aircraft manufacturers. Over the next few years, the team will collaborate with key stakeholders on both sides of the North Sea to explore viable routes, from an operational as well as a commercial perspective.
“We are responding to the call in the joint statement of the Dutch and UK governments calling upon the ecosystem to establish a green corridor across the North Sea. The technology is arriving, the environmental case is undeniable, and regional aviation is where the transition can make meaningful impact. We are excited about bringing competitive electric flight to passengers who are looking for a convenient, efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional aviation.”
Sietse Bakker · CEO, Vlindair
Vlindair’s five-year pre-launch window is aimed at building a movement around electric flight, assessing route demand, securing landing rights and building a solid and scalable airline operation towards the first flight around 2031. Vlindair is currently raising seed funding, with conversations underway with sustainable mobility investors across Europe.