09.11.2026
The big vision for HAV is to bring an aircraft to market that fills a well-known gap in the freight and logistics market.
Air freight today is a very small sector: only 1% of global freight travels by air. Aircraft are small compared to ships and trains: for example, there’s no aircraft that can carry a shipping container. And they are expensive compared to other forms of freight. The result is that the average speed of freight being transported today is less than 20km/h when averaged over the multiple transport modes and handovers. Faster transport by air is reserved only for select time sensitive goods, at high cost. Airlander technology can transform that picture by expanding the logistics landscape with a low-cost, time efficient freight solution.
We spoke to Toni Green, Head of the CEO’s Office.
“The opportunity spans both mainstream and remote logistics, and it is growing faster than we anticipated. Demand is increasing, delivery windows are tightening, and the cargo itself is changing,” says Toni. “One example is the growth of data centres and renewable energy projects that are bringing large, heavy equipment that needs to arrive on demanding schedules. When one component is delayed, an entire project can be left waiting. The way we buy, build and power our lives has changed enormously. But much of the freight required to support that change still moves through the same combinations of ships, trucks, ports and airports, with every handover adding complexity to the journey."
Mainstream air cargo provides another illustration of demand exceeding expectations: global demand grew 11.3% in 2024, against IATA’s December 2023 forecast of 4.5%.
The geopolitical climate has put existing pressures in both air and surface freight under a microscope. UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport describes how disruption is lengthening voyages, reducing effective capacity and increasing costs. For HAV, that heightened attention, combined with growing demand, makes this a good moment to explore what Airlander Freighter can unlock.
In our discussions with manufacturers, retailers and logistics providers, it's clear that the direct cost of moving goods is only the tip of the iceberg. Teams responsible for supply chains often tell us that transit time has an impact far beyond transport costs. Every day that products spend in transit is another day that working capital remains tied up in inventory. To protect against uncertainty, businesses often hold additional stock, increasing costs and reducing flexibility. Delayed deliveries can affect revenue, cash flow and production schedules across entire supply chains.
Reducing transit times and creating more direct connections fundamentally changes these dynamics.
“The industry understands these challenges better than anyone, and it is looking for ways to adapt,” says Toni. “We believe Airlander Freighter could help extend existing networks, open up new services and give businesses more resilient ways to move their goods. Their experience will be essential in shaping what it becomes.
“That is why we’re looking for the right strategic partners: organisations that want to work with us to develop a solution, rather than wait to buy one. Together, we have an opportunity to shape that solution whilst the world is looking.”