Daniel Rosen Jacobson (Elysian), Jolanda Stevens (KLM) and Oliver Newton (Transavia) © Elysian Aircraft
Schiphol, June 11, 2025 — Elysian Aircraft, KLM, and Transavia are launching a knowledge-sharing initiative today to accelerate battery-electric aviation development. In a series of joint workshops, the partners will explore technological, operational, and commercial requirements for deploying electric aircraft like Elysian's E9X. This initiative marks a significant step toward emission-free aviation.Elysian is developing the E9X, the first battery-electric aircraft designed to carry 90 passengers with a range of 800 kilometers. This technology promises cleaner and more efficient transportation, particularly for shorter flights between regional airports worldwide. According to Elysian, successful development requires more than technical innovation alone."It's impossible to build an aircraft that truly breaks from industry conventions without intensive collaboration with operators and airports," says Daniel Rosen Jacobson, Co-CEO of Elysian. "This collaboration yields crucial insights—from technical requirements to passenger experience and network integration—helping us determine which destinations are operationally and economically viable. It's eye-opening that we can often operate more sustainably and cost-effectively than trains, and that busy routes like Amsterdam–London prove entirely feasible with electric flight."Various expertsThe series of workshops unite experts across disciplines, including aircraft designers, maintenance specialists, network planners, and revenue managers. Together, they address key challenges in maximizing electric aviation's potential. The airlines contribute vital operational and commercial insights that will shape the electric aircraft's design, development, and market implementation.Transavia: realism and experience as drivers for innovationAs an airline, Transavia feels responsible for actively contributing to innovation in aviation sustainability. The collaboration with Elysian aligns with existing initiatives, such as fleet renewal and the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)."Electrification represents a promising direction we firmly believe in. Through this collaboration, we can take concrete steps toward sustainable air transport. While maintaining our focus on commercial and operational feasibility," says Oliver Newton, Lead Sustainability & Innovation at Transavia. "Connecting technical innovations with customer experience, network, and costs presents a challenge—but we're fully committed to this effort."Transavia brings valuable expertise in maintenance, operations, and customer experience to the table. While some proposals—such as having aviation personnel perform battery swaps—proved impractical, new insights emerged. One notable discovery was the potential to open routes to destinations where passenger demand is too low to justify larger aircraft.KLM: exploring the future with industry-wide impactKLM acknowledges that emission-free flying cannot be achieved overnight. In collaboration with industry partners, the airline is researching flights powered by electricity, hydrogen, and hybrid fuels. Jolanda Stevens, Zero Emission Aviation Program Manager at KLM, has been a member of Elysian's advisory board since April 2024."By gaining a deeper understanding of the aircraft's design and operations, we can contribute our expertise to shape the final product. Moreover, this collaboration enables us to envision how our sector can transform," says Stevens.A crucial element of this collaboration is pilot involvement, as they offer essential feedback on aircraft performance and energy consumption patterns."Pilots understand better than anyone what works and doesn't work in an aircraft. For instance, having two different energy sources onboard requires an entirely new approach to energy management for the crew. This must be incorporated into the design," Stevens adds.“Next stepsIn the coming months, the partners will continue working on concrete use cases, route analyses, and passenger propositions. The joint ambition is not only to build a more sustainable aircraft but to design a complete ecosystem around it."We're not just aiming for emission-free flying—we want to shape the passenger experience of the 21st century," says Daniel Rosen Jacobsen of Elysian. "Which aspects of air travel are outdated? How can we make flying more pleasant, efficient, and sustainable? Together, we'll find these answers."This strategic collaboration marks an important step toward sustainability in the aviation industry, where innovation and cooperation go hand in hand.