EA Maven release UK Regional Air Mobility Opportunity

Electric Aviation Maven (EA Maven), in collaboration with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS), has conducted an in-depth evaluation of the Hydrogen B-N Islander aircraft. This innovative aircraft, powered by a fuel cell system and electric motors and incorporating Reaction Engines technology to manage thermal output, is set to transform regional air mobility in the UK.

EA Maven’s analysis, leveraging operational data from CAeS and their UK Regional Air Mobility Opportunity dataset, outlines the aircraft’s total market potential and a forecast for 2035. The findings indicate that the Hydrogen B-N Islander can access 90% of the 684 potential routes identified, offering significant economic and environmental benefits.

CAeS thoughts on the report:

On UK economic benefit:

• The report demonstrates the enormous potential for future regional air connectivity in the UK and, specifically, the opportunity for zero-emissions, hydrogen powered aircraft to make significant carbon emissions savings compared with ground transportation modes.
• Small, zero emissions aircraft such as the Hydrogen powered B-N Islander have the potential to enhance regional economic growth across the UK through the development of a distributed aviation system. Greater regional connectivity will significantly expand employment opportunities, boost tourism, and provide vital life-line links for healthcare and community services.
• With the right government policy and strategy to enable hydrogen production and the renewable energy to create it, regional airports and airfields could provide off-take demand for hydrogen production sites or could serve as local hydrogen generation hubs, powering not just the aircraft but the airport itself and vital infrastructure in the surrounding community.

On potential for operators/operations:

• Hydrogen powered B-N Islander aircraft are projected to offer airlines up to 45% saving in fuel and maintenance costs, primarily due to fewer parts to maintain and longer time between overhauls. This is key to the profitability for airlines utilising small aircraft with fewer seats, such as the Islander, a fact that underpins the opportunity shown in the EA Maven report.

Why EA Maven?

• EA Maven’s bottom-up data, driven approach uses real mobile phone location data across multiple modes of transport which allows a deeper insight into the potential demand for zero-emissions Regional Air Mobility.  The ability to forecast carbon emissions savings, economic impact, job creation, capital investment and revenue projections also helps to show the wider opportunity that this sector present for the UK economy.