Transavia Ventures, the investment arm of Transavia Airlines (HV, Amsterdam Schiphol), is investing an undisclosed amount in Dutch electric airliner startup FlyWithLucy (Lucy) in line with its sustainability goals, according to an agreement signed during the World Aviation Festival in Amsterdam recently.

Lucy plans to operate its first electric flights from Eindhoven in 2025, starting with five-seater aircraft with a range of about 250km. Ambitions exist for larger aircraft with greater range. The startup aims first to replace existing regional aviation and eventually to integrate into the current route network of commercial airlines. A team of universities, startups, corporates, and aircraft manufacturers are working together to achieve that goal.

“Electric flying focuses in the first phase on the business traveller. Thanks to the partnership with Transavia, we can also offer electric flights to holiday destinations at an accelerated pace. By 2030, we will have the technology to take over parts of routes from existing airlines,” explained Lucy founder Teun Kraaij.

Transavia Chief Executive Officer Marcel de Nooijer said the investment in Lucy was the third technological solution in the airline’s sustainability strategy this year. “We were the first low-cost airline to start refuelling with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In addition, we are a partner in constructing hydrogen infrastructure around Rotterdam, to be able to fly with hydrogen. Finally, with Lucy, we are investing in electric flying.”

Transavia Ventures focuses on collaborating with and investing in startups that help make aviation, in general, and Transavia, in particular, more sustainable.