Electrifly: First commercial all-electric flight operation at the limit
The start-up Electrifly flies passengers between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany in an electric aircraft operating close to the border.
With a two-seater Pipistrel Velis Electro and an electric car from Nio, it's close to the limit in the air and on the ground.
(Image: Electrifly)
At the beginning of July, the start-up Electrifly launched an all-electric flight service between the three countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany for an initial period of two months. However, the electric aircraft used can only carry one passenger.
Electrifly launches its all-electric Pipistrel Velis Electro aircraft, which are provided by the ASL Flight Academy and Aachen University of Applied Sciences, from the airports of Maastricht (Netherlands), Liège (Belgium) and Aachen (Germany). From there, they fly up to 50 kilometers in cross-border operations.
Short flight distances
However, the all-electric aircraft cannot fly much further. According to the manufacturer, the Pipistrel Velis Electro can stay in the air for around 50 minutes before the batteries need to be recharged. The range is therefore less than 200 km. This is enough to cover the distance between Maastricht and Aachen, the shortest route at 30 km, and from Aachen to Liège at 50 km.
The offer is therefore aimed at business people who have to commute regularly between these cities. However, only one person can fly in the two-seater in addition to the pilot. However, there is plenty of space for luggage: a maximum of 178 kg can be taken on board.
Flights are booked via an app. A flight costs a flat rate of 120 euros each way. If you book the return flight at the same time, you pay a total of 160 euros. The price also includes a transfer service with an electric car from Nio within a radius of 15 km around the airport to ensure a completely emission-free transfer. Electrifly has entered into a cooperation agreement with Nio for this purpose.
(olb)