Widerøe Joins Rolls-Royce and Tecnam Partnership to Launch All-Electric Aircraft Service

Widerøe Joins Rolls-Royce and Tecnam Partnership to Launch All-Electric Aircraft Service

Rolls-Royce, Tecnman, and Widerøe are partnering to launch an all-electric passenger-carrying aircraft for the commuter aircraft market in Scandinavia, according to a March 11 release. The aircraft would start service in 2026. 

“We are highly excited to be offered the role as launch operator, but also humble about the challenges of putting the world’s first zero-emissions aircraft into service,” Andreas Aks, chief strategy officer at Widerøe, said in a statement. “Our mission is to have all new capabilities, processes and procedures required for a zero-emissions operator, designed and approved in parallel with the aircraft being developed and certified.”

Norway has committed to making all domestic flights zero emissions by 2040. Widerøe alone flies 400 flights per day 75 percent of which are less than 275 km, according to the release. 

“Norway’s extensive network of short take-off and landing airports is ideal for zero-emissions technologies,” Stein Nilsen, chief executive at Widerøe, said in a statement. “This aircraft shows how quickly new technology can and will be developed, and that we are on track with our ambition of flying with zero emissions around 2025.”

Rolls-Royce and Tecnam have an existing partnership to develop the P-Volt, an 11-seat all-electric aircraft, which could be advantageous for short take-off and landing routes often traveled on the north and west coasts of Norway, according to the release. 

“It is incredible to see the interest around the P-Volt, not only coming from regional airlines, but also from smart mobility-based companies,” Fabio Russo, chief project R&D and product development at Tecnam, said in a press statement. “This last year has demonstrated the importance of promoting capillary connections between small communities while reducing the congestion of the main hubs. The P-Volt, like the P2012 Traveller today, will perfectly fit the scope of this program. We are honored and pleased to see the level of enthusiasm Widerøe and our partner Rolls-Royce are dedicating to this project.”

Rolls-Royce and Widerøe also had a previous partnership from 2019 to develop electrical aircraft, according to the release. 

“Electrification will help us deliver our ambition to enable the markets in which we operate achieve net-zero carbon by 2050,” Rob Watson, director of Rolls-Royce Electrical, said in a statement. “This collaboration strengthens our existing relationships with Tecnam and Widerøe as we look to explore what is needed to deliver an all-electric passenger aircraft for the commuter market. It also demonstrates Rolls-Royce’s ambitions to be the leading supplier of all-electric and hybrid-electric propulsion and power systems across multiple aviation markets.”

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