This Bonkers 656-Foot ‘AirYacht’ Concept Can Transport 40 Guests Around the World
The 656-foot-long AirYacht is moving closer to reality, but its latest iteration might force the designers to change its name. Instead of a two-part structure that includes a 197-foot superyacht that releases from the upper blimp portion, the latest version will have a nondetachable lounge to increase its weight capacity and accommodate more passengers.
The AirYacht will now stay exclusively in the air, says CEO Guillaume Hoddé, who cofounded the Swiss company with fellow engineer Matthieu Ozanne. Jettisoning the boat allows more flexibility to accommodate larger groups and weight capacity, with the ability to make longer cruising trips to enhance the experience. “We founded the company with a dream of living in the air,” Hoddé told Robb Report. “At 500 feet, you can see, feel, and smell the environment with almost limitless accessibility. That is different from any other mode of travel.”
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The redesigned lounge will have about 8,600 square feet of livable space that can accommodate 10 to 40 guests, depending on the configuration. The company is looking to sell its airships to different operators around the world, who can then specify the interior layouts.
The company has fabricated prototypes for many subsystems, says Hoddé, with the first full-scale prototype serving as the first airship. He declined to specify when the full-scale version would be ready, but initial flight tests are planned for 2026, and after modifications, it should be commercially available two years later. It will be operated with hybrid propulsion (with the goal of running on emissions-free hydrogen power by 2030) capable of a maximum altitude of about 10,000 feet, with the capacity to remain fixed in one place so guests can enjoy prolonged views of specific areas. It is designed to remain autonomous for a week but a top speed of 50 knots means it can cover long distances.
Hoddé envisions the AirYacht cruising above all types of terrain, from polar regions to African savannahs to beautiful, verdant areas of France. “Imagine taking off from Geneva, doing aerial sightseeing over Lake Annecy, and Montblanc Valley in the French Alps, and then flying over 22 castles along the Loire,” says Hoddé.
AirYacht’s newly designed elevator allows 12 passengers to disembark at a time, so the airship can do scheduled events while afloat. The open design of the interior is intended to promote social interaction between guests, with dining areas, two bars, and multiple spots to take in aerial views. But guests will also have privacy in the spacious ensuite bedrooms. The ship is designed to accommodate a 12-person crew and three pilots.
The AirYacht (not to be confused with Lazzarini’s bonkers flying superyacht concept of the same name) is not without competitors. Airlander 10 airships from Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) are also designed for the tourism market. The U.K. company expects the airship to be certified in 2026. It will be able to carry approximately 130 people and cruise between 50 and 70 knots. It also has a luxury configuration with large suites and fewer guests.
Israel-based Atlas LTA Advanced Technology is also touting its long-range Atlant 30, which accommodates 20 passengers across 10 suites. Its design team says it will be ready to fly in 2026.
Google cofounder Sergey Brin’s LTA (Lighter Than Air) Research outfit is also moving ahead with its Pathfinder airships, though it’s not clear if it will have passenger-carrying capacities.
“Pathfinder is a case where someone is willing to take a risk and has all the necessary capital,” says Brandon Buerge, an associate professor with the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Wichita State University and veteran of three airship programs. If Pathfinder is successful, Buerge told Robb Report, it could mean sizable investments in the sector for applications such as cargo and regional travel.
That would, in turn, bode well for start-ups like AirYacht.
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