EIB to provide advisory support for VÆRIDION aircraft development. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced that, through its advisory services, it will be providing support for the German aviation company VÆRIDION during the development of a fully electric regional aircraft. Advisory support will aim to assist the company in the advancement of its Microliner programme towards industrialisation, as well as prepare it for future investment. The EU Innovation Fund will support the acceleration of an industrial launch (C) European Investment Bank All support will be provided under the EU Innovation Fund Project Development Assistance (IFPDA) programme. Ivor van Dartel, CEO and Co-founder of VÆRIDION, said: Electric regional aircraft can transform how people move between smaller cities and regions - not in 2050, but within the next decade. With the Microliner, Airportindustry News aim to provide clean, affordable flights on routes that today are either unserved or reliant on fossil fuels, leveraging the 2,300 regional airports that already exist across Europe. The EIB's advisory support brings in scaleup expertise on topics like project structuring, risk management and access to public and private funding, helping Airportindustry News turn a promising technology prototype into a bankable industrial project that can be rolled out at scale. VÆRIDION, a manufacturer of small, all-electric regional aircraft, is bringing together engineers to develop the Microliner, a 9-seat, fully electric aircraft designed for short-haul regional routes up to 400 kilometres. The new aircraft is intended to operate with zero inflight emissions, lower noise levels and higher energy efficiency than traditional aircraft, and will aim to offer a new option for cost-competitive and climate friendly regional connections. The company has, thus far, secured an initial order, as well as partnerships with a number of additional companies. Designed to improve access to remote regions currently underserved by both highway and high-speed rail, once developed the vehicle would aim to provide electric flights from small existing airport, relinking mid-sized cities, islands and rural regions that have recently lost scheduled air services. As part of its development programme; VÆRIDION plans to establish a dedicated manufacturing site at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport in Germany, which will serve as the company's primary production and assembly hub for its proprietary airborne battery systems, as well as the central testing location for the Microliner's first flight. The facility should, additionally, lay the groundwork for future serial production of the Microliner, which, once in operation, is expected to contribute to the decarbonisation of short haul aviation whilst simultaneously enhancing regional connectivity. Current targets will see the Microliner embark on its first flight in 2027, with entry into service expected by 2030 following certification. By this time, the company has stated that it anticipates that Microliners could provide a zero-emission alternative on a large share of today's short haul turboprop routes across Europe. For its part; the EIB's advisory team will aid VÆRIDION in the drawing up of a detailed business plan, financing structure and risk analysis so that private investors and public funds may support a ramp-p from technology prototype to serial production.

VÆRIDION appoints Otto Verhoeff as Chief Business Officer. Munich, February 03, 2026 - VÆRIDION today announced that Otto Verhoeff has joined the company's leadership team as Chief Business Officer (CBO). After more than a year serving as an external advisor, Verhoeff now steps into an in-house executive role to drive the expansion and execution of VÆRIDION's commercial strategy and business operations as the company advances towards its 2030 certification and commercialization targets. During his advisory tenure, Verhoeff worked closely with VÆRIDION's leadership team on business strategy, market positioning, and cultivating partnerships across the aviation ecosystem. His transition into this new role reflects the company's next phase of growth as VÆRIDION advances beyond early-stage research and development into full-scale testing of its electric aircraft technology, preparing its production capabilities, and building its commercial platform that will bring its 100% electric aircraft to market. As CBO, Verhoeff will focus on scaling VÆRIDION's business operations and strengthening strategic partnerships with airlines, airports, and industry stakeholders. Building on VÆRIDION's momentum of securing ASL Group as its launch customer, he will further develop the company's go-to-market strategy and the expansion of the company's commercial presence worldwide. "Otto has already made a meaningful impact on our strategy and external positioning over the past year," said Ivor van Dartel, CEO of VÆRIDION. "Now bringing him into VÆRIDION full-time enables us to accelerate our path to market and deliver on our mission to make 100% electric aircraft operational by 2030, transforming regional connectivity across Europe and beyond." Verhoeff brings deep expertise in scaling technology-driven companies and building high-performing global teams. He previously held senior leadership positions at Air France KLM's MRO division in Amsterdam and Miami, as well as in the aircraft leasing and aviation finance sector with Castlelake in London and Dublin. His new appointment further strengthens VÆRIDION's leadership team, complementing its technical and operational capabilities with additional business expertise. "I'm excited to take on this role and further deepen my involvement with VÆRIDION," said Otto Verhoeff. "The company has built a strong technological foundation in cooperation with an outstanding level of well-established industry participants, and I look forward to helping translate that into a scalable commercial business and creating long-term value."

VÆRIDION, a Munich-based aviation start-up developing 100% electric aircraft for regional travel, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), one of Europe's leading applied aerospace research institutions.