First electric flight lands at Gatwick Airport

The first ever electric flight to land at Gatwick Airport touched down this week.

The Pipistrel Velis Electro plane is flying a 17-day tour around France but made a stop at Gatwick on Wednesday.

The two-seater Velis Electro can be flown commercially and is approved for pilot training, as well as a number of other operations.

As well as being the first electric flight to land at the airport, Gatwick CEO Mark Johnston said it also "might just be the smallest".

"We're proud to be playing our part in supporting wider efforts to decarbonise the aviation sector.

"Our vision is to be the airport for everyone, whatever your journey, and as we grow, we must do it sustainably."

Vinci, which runs Gatwick, said the tour was "early-stage concept proof" which coincides with the introduction of 47 new electric vehicles at the airport - including airside operations and engineering cars.

"This is part of a programme to upgrade the airport's entire 300-strong vehicle fleet to fully electric by 2030, to support a broader £250m decarbonisation programme to achieve net zero for its own emissions," the airport said.