Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has announced a partnership with UK-American firm ZeroAvia to equip the Airlander 10 with hydrogen-electric engines, reducing emissions to just 1-2% of a conventional kerosene-powered aircraft. The 92-metre, £60 million per-unit airship is scheduled to begin commercial flights in 2029, making it the world's largest aircraft.
HAV has secured land in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, where it plans to build the enhanced Airlander 10 over the next 12 to 18 months. Following approval from the Civil Aviation Authority, up to 24 aircraft per year could be manufactured at the facility from 2030. The company's sales director, George Land, confirmed the 2029 in-service target while showcasing a prototype cabin in Bedford.
The Airlander 10 cruises at a maximum altitude of 3,000 metres, eliminating the need for cabin pressurisation. With a top speed of 80 mph and the ability to remain airborne for five days, it can cover 4,000 miles. The standard configuration seats 100 passengers, while a luxury version offers private double bedrooms for 18 guests.
French polar expedition company Grands Espaces has already ordered an Airlander 10, and Spanish airline Air Nostrum has placed orders for 20 aircraft to serve remote islands. The aircraft's low-altitude capability—operating safely at 300 metres above ground—enables scenic flights for safaris, polar bear watching, and whale watching.
Originally developed for the US military, the Airlander 10 was acquired by HAV after the project was scrapped following the Iraq War. A test model flown in 2016 attracted crowds and caused traffic congestion near HAV's Bedford facility. The aircraft's distinctive shape earned it the nickname 'the flying bum,' a comparison Land welcomes as light-hearted fun.
