European travellers could take electric flights on some of the continent’s most popular routes by the early 2030s, thanks to rapid advancements in tech.
“Many people still think airplanes running on batteries are a distant dream,” says Carlos López de la Osa, aviation technical manager at the European Federation for Transport & Environment (T&E). “But electric and hybrid flights are a core part of the solution to making short-haul travel more sustainable, and less dependent on imported jet fuel.”
With gas prices still volatile due to tensions in the Middle East, fuel-free electric flights are an increasingly attractive prospect. As well as shielding passengers from fossil fuel price shocks, they produce less air and noise pollution, and could connect remote areas often overlooked by major jet-liner operators.
Which European flight routes could go electric?
European start-ups are racing to build electric aircraft that could travel distances of up to 500 kilometres.
