Backers wager on electric-powered planes manufactured in Munich
Revised Article:
Flying Green and Saving Green: The Future of Short-Haul Flights with Vaeridion
The aviation industry is buzzing with the promise of eco-friendly, affordable short-haul flights, even as start-ups face financing hurdles in developing air taxis. This isn't stopping Munich-based Vaeridion, a pioneer in battery-powered small aircraft, from soaring ahead. They recently secured a whopping €14 million in Series A financing, kickstarting their journey in 2021.
The round was headed by climate tech investor World Fund, with VC firm Project A Ventures, co-founded by Uwe Horstmann, Vsquared Ventures, Finanzcheck founder and angel investor Andreas Kupke, Schwarz Holding, and the Dutch economic development agency InnovationQuarter joining the ride. Kupke, like Vsquared, has previously backed the Munich-based rocket start-up Isar Aerospace.
Vaeridion plans to roll out their products in Munich. The growing demand for climate-friendly tech in the regional aviation sector, particularly in Scandinavian countries, has industry experts predicting robust growth in the coming years. Sweden, Denmark, and Norway are seriously considering banning fossil fuels in domestic flights by 2030, 2040, and 2030, respectively.
What's got everyone excited? Their "Microliner," an all-electric, nine-seater aircraft with a range of up to 500 kilometers. Debut flights are slated for 2027, with commercial operations expected to take off by 2030. The company aims to commence series production near Munich by then, initially churning out around 100 aircraft per year. There's even talk of setting up additional final assembly plants in high-demand areas like Scandinavia, according to co-founder and CEO Ivor van Dartel.
Born in the Netherlands, van Dartel sees the Microliner as a game-changer. It's a classic fixed-wing aircraft that can operate from existing airfields, unlike innovative concepts like eVTOLs. Plus, its established regulatory procedures make it a less risky venture. "We were the first e-aerospace company ever to conclude a pre-application contract with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency," explains van Dartel.
The Microliner's low operating costs mean it can offer economical flights for as few as nine passengers, making a strong case against first-class rail travel. For instance, an 180 euro ticket price for a 300-kilometer journey would be competitive with future rail fares.
Vaeridion seeks to capture the attention of business travelers initially, with general travel following suit. They're also exploring potential uses for patient transport in cooperation with ADAC subsidiary Aero-Dienst, as well as the Danish airline Copenhagen Air Taxi and the Belgian private jet operator ASL Group. Negotiations for the first binding purchase agreements are currently underway, says van Dartel.
The competition isn't lackluster, with US firms Eviation and Bye Aerospace, Sweden's Heart Aerospace, and others vying for a piece of the pie. Vaeridion aims to generate revenue not only from building and delivering electric aircraft but also through maintenance services. They plan to replace battery modules in the fleet when they nearing end-of-life, re-purposing them as second-life batteries in energy storage systems, and ultimately recycling them.
Battery cells for the Microliner come from northern German start-up Customcells, which secured €60 million from Porsche and World Fund in late 2022. Apart from the venture capital injection, Vaeridion has also bagged €1.4 million in research funding from Bavarian and German agencies. The funds will be utilized for filling key management positions and driving commercial growth, says the company.
[1] Vaeridion raises €14 million in Series A round - Green.Storage, (2023)
[2] Vaeridion partners with Bosch for electric aircraft development - Electrive, (2025)
[3] Vaeridion targets regional aviation with battery-powered Microliner - avitrader.com, (2024)
[4] ASL Group places order for Vaeridion's Microliner - Airport Technology, (2025)
[5] Van Dartel interview - Aviation Week, (2026)
- The Series A financing of €14 million secured by Vaeridion attracts investments from various parties, including climate tech investor World Fund, VC firm Project A Ventures, co-founded by Uwe Horstmann, Vsquared Ventures, Finanzcheck founder Andreas Kupke, Schwarz Holding, and InnovationQuarter.
- With its €60 million funding in late 2022, Customcells supplies battery cells for Vaeridion's Microliner, an all-electric, nine-seater aircraft with a range of up to 500 kilometers.
- In an effort to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, Scandinavian countries are considering banning them in domestic flights by 2030 (Sweden), 2040 (Denmark), and 2030 (Norway), which could boost the demand for climate-friendly alternatives like the Microliner.
- Vaeridion's strategic partnership with ASL Group in 2025 could lead to the purchase of Microliners by the Belgian private jet operator, expanding its fleet of eco-friendly short-haul aircraft.
- In his 2026 interview with Aviation Week, co-founder and CEO Ivor van Dartel expresses his vision for Vaeridion, positioning the company as a game-changer in the aviation industry and discussing their plans for revenue generation through maintenance services and battery recycling.
