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Electric planes in Spain: Ibiza is 276 km away, the battery lasts 150 km
Spain is testing aircraft that could one day link Barcelona and Ibiza without a drop of jet fuel. The catch: the route is 276 km, while an electric plane today manages 100-150. Here is what is real, what is still a promise, and how it affects you.
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No, you will not fly from Barcelona to Ibiza on an electric plane in 2026. The aircraft exist and are being tested, but they are not allowed to carry passengers, and their range is far shorter than the distance. The first routes could appear between 2028 and 2035.
The news made headlines everywhere: electric planes between islands, no jet fuel, no noise. It sounds like a ticket you could buy tomorrow. Why you cannot, and what happens instead, is the interesting part.
What you will learn in this article
- Why 250 versus 12,000. One number explains why the electric plane cannot fly far yet.
- Interactive calculator. Pick any route and see on the map whether an electric plane can make it.
- The real timeline. Which stage the project is at and what comes next.
- 4 myths busted. Including the one about ticket prices.
What are the electric planes being tested in Spain, and where do they stand today?
They are existing regional aircraft whose combustion engines have been replaced with electric motors powered by batteries. They target fewer than 20 passengers and a 100-150 km range. In October 2026 they are in the testing phase, not in commercial service.
- CapacityFewer than 20 passengers (the original project targeted 9-19 seats)
- Electric rangeAround 100-150 km in the pure electric configuration
- Current stageGround tests for batteries and motors, experimental flights authorised by AESA
- Passengers on boardNot authorised and not certified in 2026
AESA authorisation does not mean the aircraft carry tourists: engineers can test the plane in the air, without passengers, as a step towards certification. The project belongs to Dovetail Electric Aviation, backed by Volotea and Air Nostrum, so it is more than a lab experiment.
Why are lithium batteries the biggest challenge for electric aviation?
Because of energy density. A lithium-ion battery stores about 250 Wh/kg, while jet fuel stores about 12,000 Wh/kg. An electric motor uses energy more efficiently, but batteries are still more than ten times heavier for the same useful energy.
Energy stored per kilogram (Wh/kg)
The raw gap is almost 48 times. The electric motor's higher efficiency cuts it to 15-20 times in practice (rough estimate).
The conclusion is not that electric planes are impossible. It is that a 100-150 km range is a physical limit, not a marketing compromise. Also, the battery does not get "used up" in flight, so the aircraft stays heavy until landing.
Why is Barcelona-Ibiza discussed if it exceeds the electric range?
The Barcelona-Ibiza distance is about 276 km in a straight line, more than the 100-150 km range of a purely electric plane. The route comes up because of tourist demand, not because it is feasible today: it would need better batteries or hybrid propulsion.
So why this one? Because Ibiza welcomes millions of tourists, the airports are already there, and a hybrid system could close the range gap. What is missing is high-power charging stations and certification.
Can an electric plane reach your destination?
Choose a route and the aircraft's range. The calculator compares the straight-line distance with the electric range and draws everything on the map.
The green circle shows how far a purely electric plane can fly from the departure airport. Distances are in a straight line between airports.
How long until the first commercial electric flight?
There is no official date. Local press mentions regional electric operations between 2028 and 2035, and everything depends on European certification, which is still being defined. Until then, the project has four stages, and the first is already behind it.
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Conversion, ground tests and AESA authorisation
DoneConventional engines replaced with electric motors, batteries and systems tested, then a permit for experimental flights with clear restrictions and no passengers.
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Test flights without passengers
NextMinimal crew, full telemetry and battery monitoring at altitude. There is no public schedule for this phase.
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Type certification
Framework in progressEASA is working on the rules for electric and hybrid aircraft. Without this certification, tickets cannot be sold.
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Pilot commercial route
No dateChoosing a low-risk route, with a backup airport nearby and an emergency protocol. The candidates discussed are the short island routes in the Balearics and the Canaries.
Should you fly on an electric plane? An honest answer
Electric planes will probably change short flights between islands. But "probably" is not the same as "in 2026".
Yes, worth following if...
- you fly short distances, under 200 km, especially between islands
- you care about lower noise and lower CO₂ emissions in flight (the real impact also depends on the source of the electricity)
- you are curious about technology and want to be among the first passengers once it is certified
No, not in 2026, if...
- you fly more than 150 km: there is no commercially viable pure electric solution
- you are planning a holiday now: there are no commercial electric flights
- you are waiting for low-cost prices: there are no public fares, and in the pilot phase a premium price is reasonable to expect
Myths about electric planes: what is true?
The four most common ideas about electric aviation are either false or only partly true. Tap each card to see the verdict.
What do electric planes mean for travellers from Moldova and Romania?
In the short term, nothing changes about your flight to Spain. The Chisinau-Barcelona (~2,200 km) and Bucharest-Barcelona (~2,000 km) routes are 13-22 times longer than the range of a current electric plane and stay with conventional aircraft.
What could change if the projects reach certification:
- Connections between islands (for example Palma-Ibiza or Palma-Menorca) could become electric or hybrid after 2028.
- Noise at small airports would drop on short regional routes.
- CO₂ emissions from the last leg of your trip could be reduced.
You can get to Spain right now, on flights that exist. See the options on the flight search page and read about the new flights from Chisinau to Valencia.
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Frequently asked questions about electric planes in Spain
When will the first commercial electric planes fly in Spain?
There is no official date. Ground tests are done and experimental flights are authorised, but certification for passengers is not complete. Press estimates for regional electric operations range from 2028 to 2035.
Is an electric plane safe for passengers?
It is not certified for passengers in 2026, and testing and certification are exactly what verify safety. The risks being tracked include battery overheating (thermal runaway) and reduced performance in the cold. Certified aircraft will have to meet the same strict standards as any commercial airliner.
Can an electric plane fly directly from Barcelona to Ibiza?
Not in today's purely electric version. The distance is about 276 km in a straight line, while the electric range is 100-150 km. The route would need better batteries or hybrid propulsion.
How much would a ticket on the Barcelona-Ibiza electric plane cost?
There are no public prices and tickets cannot be booked. In the pilot phase it is reasonable to expect higher fares than low-cost airlines, because of small volumes and new technology.
What is the maximum distance an electric plane can fly?
The models targeted in Spain cover about 100-150 km in the purely electric configuration. Hybrid versions are being developed for longer distances, with no confirmed official figure.
Who is developing electric planes in Spain?
Dovetail Electric Aviation (formerly Dante Aeronautical), a company from southern Spain, converts regional aircraft to electric propulsion. The airlines Volotea and Air Nostrum back the project.
What is AESA and what does it do?
AESA (Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea) is the Spanish aviation safety authority. It authorises tests and experimental flights. Final type certification of the aircraft is done at European level, through EASA.
Does anything change for my flight from Chisinau or Bucharest to Spain?
No. Long routes stay with conventional aircraft. Electric aviation mainly targets short links between islands and nearby cities.
Sources and update. Last checked: 14 October 2026. Figures may be revised as the programme advances.
- Euro Weekly News, 9 August 2026: Dovetail, Volotea, Air Nostrum, AESA authorisation.
- Majorca Daily Bulletin, 12 August 2026: the 2028-2035 timeline and island routes.
- AESA, Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea: the Spanish aviation safety authority.
- EASA, European Union Aviation Safety Agency: certification at European level.
Photos. Andrejcheck and Matti Blume, via Wikimedia Commons, licence CC BY-SA 4.0. The images may be redistributed under the same licence with credit to the author.
The electric plane is waiting for you tomorrow. The Spanish sun is waiting for you now
Until electric aviation is certified, Spain stays one flight away. Admiral.Travel consultants will find you the best offers to Barcelona, Mallorca, Ibiza or Tenerife, with flights and accommodation to suit your budget.
The future flies electric. Your holiday should not have to wait.
