A Bremen-based company is preparing a fleet of Britten-Norman Islanders and Eviation Alices for conversion. Evia Aero also depends heavily on Groningen.
Florian Kruse stated in February that “We talk to all manufacturers.” Since then, a lot has occurred at his Bremen startup Evia Aero. First, a letter of intent was signed for the procurement of 10 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander hydrogen fuel cell conversion kits with UK company Cranfield Aerospace Solutions.
Even in windy coastal areas, the Islanders are dependable aircraft. They were also chosen because they are accessible and enable earlier market entry. They have a maximum passenger capacity of nine.
Evia Aero revealed that it has also signed a letter of intent for 25 Alice electric aircraft from the American-Israeli manufacturer Eviation at the NBAA business jet trade show. In September, Alice accomplished its initial flight.
A Dutch partner was sought after by the Bremen-based business: Groningen Airport Eelde. A declaration of intent states that from there, the Alice electric aircraft and the modified Islanders will both be operated starting in 2026.
Evia Aero aims to provide regional flights from Groningen to accommodate the rising demand in coastal regions of Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. Esbjerg, Bremen, and Antwerp airports are among the ones that the firm is concentrating on.
In the past, the unattainable expansion goals and closure danger of Groningen Airport have made the news. However, things are evolving. The airport serves the University Hospital Groningen and is home to the KLM and Dutch Flight Academies, among other things.
Emphasis on hydrogen and electric flying
Due to the congestion at Amsterdam-Schiphol, more and more tourists and business travelers are choosing to fly to and from Groningen. The airport is concentrating on being one of the most environmentally friendly airports in Europe through hydrogen and electric flight under the guidance of airport director Mehltje de Groot. The airport is home to several hydrogen industries and a sizable solar park.
The existence of locally produced green energy is a factor in our decision to use Groningen Airport Eelde, according to Florian Kruse, founder, and CEO of Evia Aero. The airport is developing a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem that will eventually power our fleet’s electric and partially hydrogen-powered vehicles.
However, further infrastructure, including hangars, must also be created in Groningen before electric regional aviation can take off. Electric airplanes require different maintenance than conventional aircraft, among other factors.
