Hybrid Air Vehicles has today announced that Kuehne+Nagel and Oregon Department of Human Services’ Office of Resiliency and Emergency Management have joined the network to explore the use of larger Airlander variants.
On Tuesday (March 25, 2025), Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd (HAV), a UK-based leader in sustainable aircraft technology announced the launch of the Airlander Futures Network. This is an initiative to bring together all parties interested in future developments of the Airlander dirigible family. Worldwide logistics provider Kuehne+Nagel will join the network to explore the use of Airlander in their network, while the U.S. State of Oregon Department of Human Services’ Office of Resiliency and Emergency Management will evaluate the use of Airlander in future disaster relief. According to the company, future Airlander variants will provide lift capacity of up to 200 tonnes.
In Tuesday’s announcement, Hybrid Air Vehicles’ Director of Sales, George Land, said,
“The Airlander Futures Network poses a real opportunity to understand the aspirations of the logistics and freight market. We believe larger Airlander variants can unlock further growth and efficiency in those markets. This network lays the groundwork for relationships with industry that will collaboratively grow to deliver an aircraft that meets their needs and the needs of the planet. We look forward to working with global players to ensure the design of future aircraft meets their requirements.”
Headquartered in Switzerland, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world’s leading logistics companies and has over 80,000 employees at 1,300 locations in more than 100 countries. With clear focus on integrated logistics solutions, the company maintains a strong market position in sea logistics, air logistics, road logistics and contract logistics. The company is now exploring the use of Airlander variants in their logistics ecosystem, looking specifically at Airlander’s potential to fill the gap between fast, carbon-intensive air freight and cheap but slow surface transport.
The State of Oregon Department of Human Services’ Office of Resilience and Emergency Management joins the network today to provide expertise and input on the role larger Airlander aircraft could play in humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Oregon is a leader in disaster relief planning, principally because of the threat to the state from Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Hybrid Air Vehicle’s Airlander 10, the first aircraft to market, will be capable of delivering 100+ seat passenger mobility, or a 10 tonne freight payload, or a combination of both. Airlander 10 already has customers, including Air Nostrum Group, and eco-tourism brand Grands Espaces. Following the launch of Airlander 10, the design will be easily scalable into larger variants that could carry up to 200 tonnes. HAV has targeted logistics, freight and disaster relief as key markets for future Airlander derivatives. Airlander 10’s production at a purpose-built factory in South Yorkshire will be the centre of a green advanced manufacturing boom in the region, creating over 1,200 long-term jobs across the UK as the company works towards a production rate of 24 new aircraft per year.
Source: Hybrid Air Vehicles