Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik is to produce a long-range version of its Zeppelin LZ N07 navigable airship for transcontinental tours. The German manufacturer has started work on a 125m (410ft)-long ZET version of the New Technology airship, and plans to deliver the first of 10 ZET airships to launch customer Zeppelin Europe Tours by 2008.
The tour operator is to take 10 of the 50,000m3 (1.8 million ft3) ZETs, with an option for an additional two, which it will configure with 40 seats. The venture plans to run a circuit between historical cities in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.
The new ZET stretches the airframe by 50m over the existing LZ N07, which is used for short scenic cruises over Lake Constance, near Friedrichshafen, Germany. The airship's diameter also increases, from 15m to 27m.
Zeppelin says the airship will require around €400 million ($465 million) in investment over five years to develop, and could break even in the first five years of passenger flights. The company says once launched, more airships could be used for tours over central Europe.
Other operators in the Americas, Australia and India have expressed interest in franchising the concept.
Source: Flight International
