Regional air travel is a crucial piece of our global transportation puzzle, connecting cities and communities—but it also comes with a hefty environmental cost. For instance, in 2023, the Jeju-Seoul route in South Korea took the top spot as the most travelled air route globally, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. This 450km route saw over 43,000 flights in that year alone. It’s routes like these that drive up aviation's carbon footprint, as short-haul flights (those between 3–6 hours) contributed 54% of civil aviation’s CO2 emissions in 2023 (Bloomberg NEF).
Bloomberg’s study also found that the top 10 most frequently flown routes were all short-haul flights, with nine of those under 1,000km. It’s easy to think of short-haul flights as a “small” impact—but when you factor in their frequency and the fact that a significant chunk of a plane’s emissions comes from take-off and climb-out, these routes become a substantial piece of aviation’s emissions problem.
With climate change increasingly in the spotlight and a global push toward net-zero emissions by 2050, the regional aviation industry faces an urgent need to cut emissions—not just a little, but radically. So, what’s the way forward? The solution won’t be a one-size-fits-all technology; it’ll be a blend of innovations across the industry, all working together to decarbonise air travel.
Radical, Not Incremental
The aviation industry is exploring several options to reduce its emissions: sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), better air traffic management, electrifying ground operations, and improving operational efficiency. While these changes can make a difference, each one alone is only a partial solution and may lead to higher ticket prices if implemented widely. Taken together, they still won’t get the industry to net-zero by 2050.
Enter Airlander—a unique, zero-emissions option for sub-regional travel that aims to be in service by the end of the decade. And it’s not just better for the planet; it’s also a fresh experience for passengers, with a taller, wider cabin offering 40% more space than the typical regional aircraft, like an A320. Airlander is best suited for the shortest, most inefficient routes that are often under the most scrutiny for their carbon impact.
Airlander offers a promising step toward transforming regional aviation in a way that’s both innovative and impactful on emissions. It may look a little different, but with its potential for zero-emissions flight, it’s helping us reimagine the future of regional air travel.