When you're looking to go for a cruise, it's usually on the seas — maybe the Norwegian fjords or around the Caribbean.
But instead of on the water, Sweden's OceanSky Cruises is working to bring the experience to the skies via airships.
It won't be cheap — 'Pioneer' tickets are $240,000 for a cabin for two people on a trip to the North Pole, which features nine expeditions. However, the first 100 ticket buyers also receive company shares.
A representative for OceanSky told The National: "There have already been customers who have chosen to be pioneers and get involved not just as passengers, but as investors supporting the future of sustainable aviation.
"We are very pleased with the interest that this pioneering model of relationship between a company and its customers is getting and the profile of individuals who are looking for a purpose for their investment."
For those not interested in the shareholding route, a ticket can be procured with a 5 per cent deposit for the cabin, 45 per cent to be paid nine months before departure and 50 per cent paid six months in advance.
The company aims to become an airline of airships, with a forecasted fleet of more than 100 by 2030, focusing on the ultra-luxury experiential travel sector and air cargo segment to start with.
“OceanSky Cruises’ vision and mission is to lead the future of sustainable aviation, not through new fuels nor short-range electric planes, but by bringing airships back to the skies with zero carbon footprint," said Carl-Oscar Lawaczeck, OceanSky chief executive and founder.
OceanSky has been in talks with UK-based manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) to use its Airlander 10 airships.
The 100-passenger airship runs on helium and electricity and is capable of flying at speeds of up to 130 kilometres per hour and being airborne for five continuous days. The main technology used is called Lighter-than-Air (LTA).
Airlander 10 is capable of slashing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to a regular aircraft. HAV says the CO2 footprint on its airship will be about 4.5 kilograms per passenger, compared to more than 50kg per traveller on a regular jet.
OceanSky is in talks with other unnamed manufacturers and said it was "working to start our trips to the North Pole once there is an airship in the market to do so".
The Airlander has had some problems during its testing phase. In 2016, it crash landed on it second test flight and in 2017 it had another mishap, having broken free from its mooring mast in the UK, injuring two people.
A new Airlander 10 is to be built by 2026, Bloomberg reported. It said HAV had received a £1 million ($1.15m) grant from the UK Aerospace Research and Technology Programme to develop a 500-kilowatt electric propulsor to replace its fuel-burning engines.
OceanSky's vision of the airship is that it can carry up to 16 travellers and seven crew members and has been designed as a flying luxury hotel with large panoramic windows.
“The North Pole expedition is aimed at the traveller who wants to experience the Arctic in a unique way and at the same time contribute to the development of a new era of sustainable travel," Mr Lawaczeck said.
Some of the first season expeditions will be led by the prestigious Arctic expert and climate activist Robert Swan.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
BABYLON
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
Army of the Dead
Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera
Three stars
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Zayed Sustainability Prize
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
THE DEALS
Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m
Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m
Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m
Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m
Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m
TOTAL $485m
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
Last-16 Europa League fixtures
Wednesday (Kick-offs UAE)
FC Copenhagen (0) v Istanbul Basaksehir (1) 8.55pm
Shakhtar Donetsk (2) v Wolfsburg (1) 8.55pm
Inter Milan v Getafe (one leg only) 11pm
Manchester United (5) v LASK (0) 11pm
Thursday
Bayer Leverkusen (3) v Rangers (1) 8.55pm
Sevilla v Roma (one leg only) 8.55pm
FC Basel (3) v Eintracht Frankfurt (0) 11pm
Wolves (1) Olympiakos (1) 11pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WISH
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