Lelystad Airport, the most sustainable airport in the Netherlands
Lelystad Airport aims to be the most sustainable and innovative airport in the Netherlands. Together with our partners, we are working on new technologies and solutions that contribute to cleaner aviation and a future-proof region.
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Charging station for electric aircraft at Lelystad Airport
An Important Step Towards Sustainable Aviation
Lelystad Airport is home to one of the first public charging stations for electric aircraft in the Netherlands. With this charging hub, the airport is taking an important step towards quieter and cleaner aviation while positioning itself as a pioneering location for electric flight in both the Netherlands and Europe.
Future-Proof Charging Technology
The charging facility enables both electric aircraft and electric vehicles to be charged on the platform. Thanks to universal CCS fast chargers and an EASA-certified adapter, the same infrastructure can be used flexibly. The DC fast chargers can charge electric aircraft at high power, reducing charging times and increasing the operational availability of electric aircraft. This makes the system efficient and future-proof. The first charging tests were successfully completed in August 2025, making the charging station fully operational.
Project Electrifly and National Collaboration
The charging hub at Lelystad Airport is part of Project Electrifly, a collaboration between the Province of Flevoland, Lelystad Airport and NRG2fly. Developed by NRG2fly in partnership with Heliox, the project is contributing to the creation of Europe’s first charging network for electric aviation. By establishing a reliable and extensive charging infrastructure, electric flights can become a viable reality while enabling the technology to evolve and scale further.
The ambition is to position Lelystad Airport as an innovative and future-ready airport. As a key player, the airport is actively contributing to the development of a nationwide network of charging stations for electric aircraft, with the long-term goal of expanding this network across Europe. The Netherlands is ideally suited for this development: with 17 airports located relatively close to one another, an interconnected network can enable electric aircraft to travel efficiently throughout the country.
Lelystad Airport’s Strategic Position
Lelystad Airport plays a crucial role in this transition. It is one of only two airports in the Netherlands where both electric aircraft and Ground Support Equipment can be charged. Furthermore, 16% of all General Aviation movements in the Netherlands take place at Lelystad Airport, making it the country’s busiest General Aviation airport. This makes Lelystad Airport a natural hub for the electrification of Dutch aviation.
Impact on Education and the Region
The initiative also has a significant positive impact on both education and regional development. The ROC of Amsterdam-Flevoland has stationed a fully electric Pipistrel aircraft at the airport for training purposes, providing students with hands-on experience in sustainable aviation technology. In addition, the growing network attracts international pioneers and manufacturers who use Lelystad Airport as a testing ground for innovative technologies.
Building the Aviation of Tomorrow
Together with its partners, Lelystad Airport is helping to build the aviation of tomorrow: quieter, cleaner and smarter.
Lelystad Airport Innovation Area (LAIA)
Lelystad Airport Innovation Area (LAIA) is the innovation area surrounding Lelystad Airport. Here, companies, educational institutions and governments collaborate on sustainable innovations for the aviation of the future. The goal is to make aviation cleaner, quieter and smarter while creating new opportunities for the region.
What makes LAIA unique?
LAIA consists of four key elements that make the innovation area a strong and distinctive ecosystem:
A living innovation testbed
The airport and its surrounding area serve as a real-life testing environment. This provides space to safely test and scale new aircraft, sustainable fuels, drones and smart technologies.
A smart energy hub
Around the airport, work is underway to develop more sustainable energy solutions, including generation, storage and smart distribution. This will enable companies and the airport to increase the use of electric solutions in the future.
Applied education
Students from vocational schools, universities of applied sciences and universities gain practical experience and contribute to real innovation projects. This helps prepare them for the jobs of the future.
A strongly connected region
LAIA collaborates with companies, knowledge institutions and municipalities in Flevoland and beyond. By sharing knowledge and experience, innovations can develop faster and create a wider impact.
Why is this important?
LAIA contributes to making aviation more sustainable. At the same time, it creates significant opportunities for the region:
- new knowledge and education opportunities
- stronger collaboration between companies
- increased innovation and employment
- a future-proof economy
Building the future together
Within LAIA, governments, companies and educational institutions work closely together. By combining knowledge and creating space for testing, development and innovation, we ensure that Lelystad and Flevoland continue to lead the way in sustainable and innovative developments.
Sustainability update Royal Schiphol Group
Royal Schiphol Group published an update of its sustainability plans on 30 September 2025.
View the Sustainability Update here (PDF).
EFC and Lelystad Airport paving the way for electric aviation
Electric Flying Connection (EFC)
The Electric Flying Connection (EFC) is a network of airports, airlines, knowledge institutions and companies committed to the development and scaling up of electric aviation for regional distances. Lelystad Airport has been a member of this network since May 2024 and actively contributes as a partner to the transition towards more sustainable aviation.
What is EFC?
The mission of EFC is to transform the future of mobility by building a strong network of organisations that jointly create a complete value chain for electric aviation. This includes the development of new electric aircraft and the conversion of existing aircraft, as well as transforming regional airports into sustainable mobility hubs powered by renewable energy.
In addition, EFC focuses on the development of advanced charging infrastructure, the creation of international standards, and the promotion of electric flight schools and aviation training programmes. By applying knowledge and experience from the electric automotive industry and working closely with governments, regulators and educational institutions, EFC aims to move electric aviation beyond the pioneering phase and prepare it for large-scale adoption.
Through this mission, EFC is building an innovative transport system for the future – and Lelystad Airport is proud to play an active role in this transition.
The role of Lelystad Airport
As a test and learning environment, Lelystad Airport makes an important contribution to the development of electric aviation. In recent years, we have provided space for practical experiences that form the foundation for the next steps:
Test flights between Lelystad Airport and Schiphol-East
In 2023, eighteen test and training flights were operated with the electric Pipistrel Velis Electro. These flights, carried out in collaboration with E-Flight Academy, KLM and EFC, provided valuable insights into logistics, charging times and operational processes.
Charging infrastructure and energy solutions
Together with partners within EFC, we are working on the development of smart charging systems and energy solutions. These initiatives prepare us for a future in which electric aircraft become an integral part of our operations.
Power Up consortium
Together with other airports and aviation partners, Lelystad Airport is part of the Power Up consortium. The aim is to be operationally ready for the first commercial electric passenger flights within the Netherlands and to neighbouring countries.
Looking ahead
Through our collaboration within EFC, we can share knowledge, improve infrastructure and accelerate innovation. This strengthens our position as a testing ground for more sustainable aviation in the Netherlands and Europe.
Together, we are working towards a more sustainable future in which electric aviation becomes a realistic and reliable alternative for short- and medium-distance travel.
Watch the video:
EBS bus transport to start electric charging at Lelystad Airport
Lelystad Airport has signed a lease agreement with the public transport company EBS for a newly constructed charging station for 28 electric buses. This will allow EBS to commence electric bus transportation in and around Lelystad starting from December 10, 2023, replacing the current diesel buses.
EBS and Lelystad Airport entered this partnership because EBS couldn’t find a suitable location for its charging station due to capacity constraints on the energy grid. Therefore, Lelystad Airport is willing to provide a portion of its capacity to enable electric bus transportation in the region in a timely manner.
EBS is currently in the process of installing the charging station near the new passenger terminal.
This collaboration contributes to the region and province’s interests and aligns perfectly with Lelystad Airport’s sustainability strategy. The contracting authority, Provincie Flevoland, EBS, and Lelystad Airport are pleased with this sustainable partnership and look forward to EBS’s electric buses hitting the road on schedule.
LED lighting on runway and taxiway
In 2018, Lelystad Airport has been fully equipped with CEDD AGL technology by THK Airport Solutions. To prepare the airport for commercial traffic, the runway was extended and air traffic control as well as an instrument landing system were introduced. The airfield ground lighting on the runway, taxiways and apron areas were upgraded with CEDD airfield ground lighting technology.
The fast response times of the CEDD technology, with feedback within 500 ms, make the airport operations faster and safer than with traditional airfield lighting technology. Furthermore, due to the lack of transformers and connectors, the technology is far more resistant against water ingress in pits and conduits.
Learn more about airfield products of THK Airport Solutions.
Fieldlab ROC training with electric aircraft
MBO College Airport Hoofddorp is part of ROC van Amsterdam | Flevoland and has a field lab at Lelystad Airport focused on sustainable aviation. Students work with a fully electric aircraft, the Pipistrel.
New fleet of electric vehicles for operational service
The daily operational service at the airport is carried out almost entirely electrically. The new fleet of electric cars makes the airport even more efficient and sustainable.
Electric flying between Lelystad Airport and Schiphol Airport
In the summer of 2023, 18 individuals had the opportunity to fly from Lelystad Airport to Schiphol in a Pipistrel Velis Electro with an instructor from E-Flight Academy. This initiative was a collaboration between Electric Flying Connection (EFC) and E-flight Academy with KLM as a partner.
The goal was to explore what electric flying means for logistics and the required infrastructure. Lelystad Airport’s central location, accessibility, and high-quality electrical infrastructure played a significant role in this event.
With this exciting event, Lelystad Airport contributed to insights into the electrical infrastructure and recharging of electric aircraft, which is necessary for electric aviation. To further advance aviation sustainability, all stakeholders in the industry must experiment with new technologies and innovations in practice.
Solar energy from own site
There are solar panels on the buildings at Lelystad Airport. They fit our ambition to generate sustainable energy on our own site. More and more will be added in the coming years. This makes the solar panels a good addition to wind and ground energy.
The General Aviation terminal has a PV installation of 90 solar panels. On the flat roof of the terminal, 74 solar panels of 280 Wp each generate an average of 20,000 kWh of energy per year.
Power Up – 18 aviation and mobility parties support the introduction of electric regional aviation!
A consortium of 18 aviation and mobility organizations, working together under the name Power Up, have committed to supporting a new initiative for efficient, low-CO2, and convenient travel between and to regional airports. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding, Eindhoven Airport, Groningen Airport Eelde, Lelystad Airport, Maastricht Aachen Airport, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Royal Schiphol Group, along with the ASL Group, LUCY, KLM, Evia Aero, Maeve, Vaeridion, VoltAero, the Dutch Railways (Nederlandse Spoorwegen), Deloitte, M3 Consultancy, NACO, and Royal NLR have agreed to collectively pave the way for the introduction of electric regional aviation.
The partners aim to develop passenger processes and align operational airport procedures together. Regional airports involved in Power Up strive to be operationally ready by 2026, having jointly developed a passenger-friendly product with partners, enabling the organization of the first electric commercial passenger flights thereafter.
Electric regional aviation (eRAM) entails the operation of commercial passenger flights by aircraft with 9 to 50 seats, powered by electric motors driven by batteries, hybrid-electric, or hydrogen-electric propulsion systems, covering distances from 150 to 750 km.
Crash tenders fire brigade on bio-fuel HVO-100
To reduce emissions from the crash tenders at Lelystad Airport, the fire trucks are fueled with the biofuel HVO-100. This helps us reduce CO2 emissions by 89% compared to regular diesel. The abbreviation HVO stands for ‘Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil.’ HVO is produced from waste, residual oils, and fats, in addition to vegetable oils, such as used cooking oil.
Passenger terminal is one of the most sustainable in the world
In 2019, the passenger terminal obtained the LEED Gold-certification, making the building measurably one of the most sustainable terminals in the world. Efforts have been made to minimise energy consumption.
Spaces where travellers spend only a short time, such as the entrance hall and reclaim, are not air-conditioned. The climate control system is switched on only at security, in the lounge and the waiting area at the gate. An air source heat pump is installed for cooling and heating. The terminal has no gas connection. The building is well insulated, which further reduces energy consumption.
Flevoland Hydrogen Valley (FLHY) platform
FLHY was launched in June 2023 with the aim to jointly grow and prosper the hydrogen economy in Flevoland. Connecting suppliers and buyers of hydrogen will create new business and reduce the use of fossil fuels in Flevoland.
After the summer of 2023, Horizon Flevoland will organise cluster tables for groups of companies to jointly set up innovation projects around the theme of hydrogen.
Flevoland has little energy-using industry, but Flevoland does have Lelystad Airport, many agricultural vehicles that could run on hydrogen, several transport companies, ships and a large power plant: the Maxima power plant in Lelystad. The Maxima power plant is currently being converted to also run on hydrogen. There are many windmills and solar panels in the polder whose power can be used to produce hydrogen at suitable times.