London Gatwick marked a milestone in sustainable aviation on 9 July with the arrival of its first fully electric aircraft—part of the VINCI Airports Network Elektro Tour.
The 17-day initiative sees the Pipistrel Velis Electro traverse 50 legs between French airports and Gatwick, demonstrating early-stage innovation in electric flight and supporting wider efforts to decarbonise air travel.
The aircraft’s touchdown coincides with Gatwick’s latest move toward electrification: the delivery of 47 new electric vehicles to support airside operations and engineering. These vehicles form part of an ambitious plan to convert the airport’s entire 300-strong fleet to electric by 2030. The upgrade supports a £250m sustainability roadmap aimed at achieving net zero emissions for Gatwick’s own operations (Scope 1 and 2) within the decade.
Further investment includes £14m allocated to 14 electric tram buses, set to transport passengers between terminals and long-stay car parks by early 2026. The new fleet, powered by dedicated charging infrastructure, is expected to save over 17 tonnes of carbon annually.
Speaking on the occasion, Mark Johnston, Chief Operating Officer at London Gatwick, commented: “We’re pleased to welcome the VINCI Airports Elektro Tour team—this may well be the smallest aircraft to ever land at Gatwick, but it represents a big step forward. Our Decade of Change strategy is about real, measurable progress, and the transition to electric vehicles is just one part of it.”
The Elektro Tour reflects growing momentum across Europe’s airport network to explore low-emissions travel solutions. Gatwick’s role in the programme signals its commitment to not just enabling sustainable travel, but actively leading the charge from tarmac to terminal.