Flyvbird (Flyv) plans to offer on-demand air taxi services at Twente Airport in the Netherlands. The German regional airline start-up and Dutch airport have agreed to develop plans to connect Twente to other small airports in Europe using Flyv’s fleet of low-cost and reduced-emissions aircraft, including future electric and hybrid models. In a memorandum of understanding, the partners also agreed to collaborate on standards and procedures for ground operations under Flyv’s on-demand air taxi network, which is expected to begin transporting passengers between European cities in 2025.
Flyv’s initial fleet will consist of four Tecnam P2012 Travellers—nine-passenger, twin-piston airplanes with a range of 960 nm (1,760 kilometers). Flyv also aims to operate Electra.aero’s hybrid-electric, short-takeoff-and-landing (eSTOL) aircraft as well as the Eviation Alice electric commuter airplane, both of which seat nine passengers as well. Last year, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Electra.aero for the purchase of up to 100 hybrid eSTOL aircraft, which have a projected range of 500 miles (800 kilometers)—about twice the range of the all-electric Alice, for which Flyv has placed a conditional pre-order of up to 50 units in October. Eviation plans to have the Alice certified and in service in 2027, while Electra is aiming for 2028.
“Twente Airport management is enthusiastic about next-gen commuterliner, electric, and eVTOL programs, but just as important as the OEMs designing and building them are the pioneering operators which are committing to fly them,” said Gerben Groothuis, Twente Airport’s eFlight business development manager. “It is also smart to start setting up this on-demand service with existing smaller fossil-powered aircraft to start with, while electric aircraft are being developed,” Groothuis added. “We’ll be able to practice at Twente Airport with existing aircraft to try out the service, so that in a few years the switch to next-gen clean aircraft can be made smoothly.”
Flyv’s initial fleet will consist of four Tecnam P2012 Travellers—nine-passenger, twin-piston airplanes with a range of 960 nm (1,760 kilometers). Flyv also aims to operate Electra.aero’s hybrid-electric, short-takeoff-and-landing (eSTOL) aircraft as well as the Eviation Alice electric commuter airplane, both of which seat nine passengers as well. Last year, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Electra.aero for the purchase of up to 100 hybrid eSTOL aircraft, which have a projected range of 500 miles (800 kilometers)—about twice the range of the all-electric Alice, for which Flyv has placed a conditional pre-order of up to 50 units in October. Eviation plans to have the Alice certified and in service in 2027, while Electra is aiming for 2028.
“Twente Airport management is enthusiastic about next-gen commuterliner, electric, and eVTOL programs, but just as important as the OEMs designing and building them are the pioneering operators which are committing to fly them,” said Gerben Groothuis, Twente Airport’s eFlight business development manager. “It is also smart to start setting up this on-demand service with existing smaller fossil-powered aircraft to start with, while electric aircraft are being developed,” Groothuis added. “We’ll be able to practice at Twente Airport with existing aircraft to try out the service, so that in a few years the switch to next-gen clean aircraft can be made smoothly.”
