Living lab for electric flight 

How feasible is electric flight? What is required at the airport to make it possible? Can a network between European regions be created? Eindhoven Airport, Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Groningen Airport Eelde are going to find out.

First electric passenger flights in the Netherlands within 5 years

The airports have set up the Power Up living lab, supported by Royal Schiphol Group and the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), to explore the possibilities of electric flight. It is anticipated that the first electric passenger flights between Dutch airports will be possible within the next five years.

Fast progress

The predictions are based on research carried out by M3 Consultancy. This research showed that electric flights will first be able to fly around 500 kilometres and have the potential to fly up to 1000 kilometres at a later stage. M3 Consultancy have reported that developments are happening fast. Power Up wants to start by testing 4 to 9 seater aircraft in the Netherlands. Eventually, larger aircraft can be deployed and a European network established.

The Netherlands as living aviation lab

Dick Benschop, CEO of Royal Schiphol Group, stresses the importance of Power Up: ‘By doing this, Dutch airports are creating a learning environment for electric flight and are starting to gain knowledge at this early stage. Making the Netherlands a living lab for aviation has several benefits. Our international competitiveness and employment opportunities are enhanced, and our knowledge position and business climate are improved.’

Read the previous blogs

  • Award-winning circular concrete soon at Schiphol

    Published on:

    The winner of the SHARE Award 2023 is one we know well. Bio Bound's sustainable and now award-winning concrete products will soon be at Schiphol.

  • Circular solution for PFAS-containing soil

    Published on:

    Will we be able to reuse our PFAS-contaminated soil by means of a soil treatment facility and an innovative brick-making process?

  • Crushing concrete sustainably

    Published on:

    Schiphol is opening an on-site facility to crush concrete and reuse it to make new products.