Spanish carriers Air Nostrum and Volotea have each acquired a minority stake in zero-emission conversion firm Dante Aeronautical.

In addition, the agreement enables the pair take the same size stake in Dovetail Electric Aviation – an Australia-headquartered venture involving Dante and Sydney Aviation Holdings.

Volotea-c-YayaPhotos_Shutterstock

Source: Yaya Photos/Shutterstock

No details of the amount invested, or the size of the shareholding acquired have been disclosed, however. MRO unit Air Nostrum Engineering and Maintenance Operations led the investment on behalf of its parent. 

Air Nostrum and Volotea were already working with Dante on the back of a 2021 agreement centred on a battery and fuel cell conversion of a Cessna Grand Caravan. 

Dante and Dovetail have recently commenced raising seed-stage capital; at least two additional strategic investors will be announced soon, says Dante.

Under previously disclosed plans, Dante and Dovetail are working together to develop a full-electric powertrain retrofit for the Grand Caravan to enter service in 2025. Conversion of a Beechcraft King Air to run on hydrogen fuel cells is also planned.

Dominic Perry is deputy editor of Flight International but also contributes extensively to flightglobal.com. Although specialising in the coverage of the helicopter industry, he has written on most topics in aerospace – be they commercial, defence or business aviation. In addition, there has been an increasing focus on the decarbonisation of the industry and zero-emission flight initiatives.View full Profile

More from Dominic Perry

Topics