First electric flight in Dutch Caribbean

Aruba witnessed the first electric flight ever in the greater Caribbean region. On the island that is one of the four countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a Royal NLR-owned Pipistrel Velis Electro electric aircraft took the skies for a series of demonstration flights.

ArubaNative reports that the flights took place during the first International Sustainable Air Transportation Event called ‘A Flight to the Future’, organized by Aruba Airport Authority.

Ursell Arends, Aruba’s Minister of Transport, Integrity, Nature and Senior Affairs, had the honor of being the first passenger on the 15-minute inaugural electric flight. The Dutch Caribbean Cooperation of Airports (DCCA) is a cooperation between all 6 Caribbean Airports within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. DCCA aims to present future focused alternative air transportation options to improve interisland connectivity between the Dutch Caribbean Islands by making it more affordable, more efficient, and more sustainable.