- Due to their environmental impact, short-haul flights need to be reconsidered and made sustainable in order to justify their existence.
- Vaeridion plans to meet the need for environmentally friendly flight alternatives by developing the battery-powered Microliner, which enables CO2-free short-haul flights.
- The future envisages the use of battery-powered flying in small aircraft and on short routes, while air taxis are also being explored as green alternatives
Short haul flights ,in terms of kilometers per passenger, are considered major polluters in the transport industry. If the industry does not make any changes, it is foreseeable that it will become obsolete in the near future. In order to retain the concept of short domestic flights or short-haul flights, a complete overhaul and sustainable redesign is required. This leads to an increased need for environmentally friendly flight alternatives. The start-up Vaeridion aims to meet this need by working on battery-powered aircraft that will fly free of CO2 emissions.
Why revolutionize short-haul flights instead of abolishing them?
Given the environmental impact of short domestic and short-haul flights, the question is why they should not be eliminated. What motivates society not to work on new alternatives, but to make the current solution more environmentally friendly? Is it possible to replace short-haul flights with rail connections? Are short domestic flights necessary or just a convenient luxury?
Many regions, particularly large parts of Northern Europe, lack alternative transport options such as rail routes for domestic travel. Building all of these missing routes would likely be a larger, more expensive and environmentally damaging effort than developing environmentally friendly flight alternatives. There are many small towns and regions, especially in Scandinavia, that have so far been accessible almost exclusively by plane. The Scandinavian governments have therefore already set ambitious goals in the area of the aviation revolution: in Denmark and Sweden, only emission-free domestic flights should take place from 2030. Norway aims to do this by 2040 and Finland by 2045.
Vaeridion: Visions, innovations and the future of green flying
The Munich start-up Vaeridion was created by aerospace engineers Ivor van Dartel and Dr. Sebastian Seemann. The company does not yet have a defined business model; it could develop into both an aircraft manufacturer and an airline.
Vaeridion is working on battery-powered aircraft that will make short-haul flights without CO2 emissions. The model, called Microliner, offers space for nine passengers and two pilots over a range of up to 500 km. It is designed similar to a glider to be lightweight and aerodynamic. The Microliner will be able to take off and land on both large and small regional runways.
High performance batteries from Customcells
Batteries already exist that meet the requirements of such a model and would enable a range of up to 500 km. Vaeridion has entered into a cooperation with the Tübingen battery company Customcells. It plans to develop batteries that will fit tailor-made into the wings of the machine to save space.
Expected market launch of Vaeridion
According to current forecasts, the first flight is targeted for 2026. This will be accompanied by numerous inspections and checks, as the company must comply with many regulations such as the EU's Green Deal, the Paris Climate Agreement and general laws in order to certify its model and get it approved by the authorities. The actual market entry is expected to take place in 2029.
The founders believe that at least 2030 electric aircraft will be deployed in the international market by 1000, with them leading the way. Both domestic and international areas of application can be considered, e.g. from Hamburg to Sylt or from Memmingen to Leipzig. Countries like Canada and Norway are said to have already bought machines, and Denmark has also thought about this idea.
Competing companies with similar visions
In addition to the start-up Vaeridion, other companies are also working on the short-haul flight revolution, both in the general aviation industry and in the emerging air taxi industry.
The Israeli company Eviation is taking a similar approach with its battery-powered aircraft model Alice. This should be suitable for both freight and passenger transport and have a range of up to 850 km. The first models are scheduled to be delivered this year to customers such as DHL Express and Cape Air.
Source & Copyright by Eviation
The Swedish start-up Heart Aerospace has also been working on electric aircraft, for which tickets were even sold in mid-2023. When and where the first short-haul flight will take place (probably in 2028) is still unclear. The machine that is supposed to fly has not yet been built. The tickets from Scandinavian Airlines, which will use the Heart Aerospace models, were sold out very quickly.
Source & Copyright by Heart Aerospace
Future prospects: air taxis
In addition to conventional short-haul aircraft, green alternatives are also being researched for air taxis. Air taxis, also known as air taxis or eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), are currently developing.
The German start-up Volocopter is aiming to fly the first commercial air taxis, the VoloCity's, at the Olympic Games in Paris this year. These are autonomous, emission-free machines that can take off and land vertically and have space for up to two passengers. They are intended to solve the traffic problem in large cities, but require that the cities offer take-off, landing and charging areas.
Source & Copyright by Volocopter
Lilium, also a German start-up, pursues a similar vision. This company is also researching emission-free air taxis that can take off and land vertically. The machines should be able to carry up to six passengers and also fly autonomously. Market entry is planned for the end of 2025, but the company's financial situation fluctuates regularly and could still influence market entry.
Source & Copyright by Lilium
Is battery-powered flying the future?
Yes, battery-powered flying is the future, but primarily in small aircraft and over short distances. Researchers have determined that aircraft for up to 19 passengers could become electric aircraft. Beyond that, however, such battery-operated machines are not realistic because the technology would reach its physical limits.
