Zephyr sets world-record for longest continuous flight, flying 67 days in stratosphere – sUAS News

• Zephyr breaks its own record of 64 days flight in the stratosphere, after years of successive records for unmanned flights throughout twenty years of development
• Record flight saw advances in Zephyr’s performance, including crossing the ITCZ and navigating numerous flight information regions
• Established by Airbus to commercialise Zephyr, AALTO is now in a strong position to progress its journey to commercialise HAPS services by 2026

Nairobi, Kenya: AALTO HAPS Ltd. (“AALTO” or “the Company”), an Airbus subsidiary based in Farnborough, UK, has set a world-record for global aviation with its Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS). Designed, manufactured and operated by AALTO, Zephyr concluded 67 days, 6 hours and 52 minutes of continuous flight in the stratosphere on 28 April 2025. This surpassed Zephyr’s previous flight record of 64 days in 2022, and breaks the world-record for longest flight duration that has stood for half a century.

After launching from its AALTOPORT in Kenya on 20 February 2025, Zephyr conducted connectivity payload testing before transiting to Australian airspace. During this transit, Zephyr navigated 7 different flight information regions, the most ever recorded by a HAPS. In addition, the aircraft crossed the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) twice – a demonstration of Zephyr’s stability and performance during changing weather conditions in southern and northern hemispheres.

The record-breaking flight terminated safely over a designated aviation sanctuary area in the Indian ocean. Relevant authorities were promptly notified by AALTO.

After a decade of stewardship by Airbus Defence and Space, Zephyr has established itself as the leading HAPS platform in the world. Zephyr’s most recent record-breaking flight was facilitated by a regulatory framework in Kenya, led by the Kenya Space Agency and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. With the support of its regulators, shareholders and partners, AALTO is preparing to commercialise HAPS services with initial targeted entry-into-service in Japan during 2026.

Hughes Boulnois, Chief Executive Officer of AALTO, commented: “AALTO and Zephyr are at the forefront of innovation in aerospace. With this new world-record flight, we have pushed the boundaries again for the burgeoning HAPS industry and aviation globally with a solar-powered, stratospheric aircraft. Stewarding the most advanced HAPS, we have demonstrated our capabilities that are valuable for commercial and government partners. Our focus for 2025 is continuing to integrate HAPS into the space, defence and connectivity ecosystems: progressing the commercial phase for this pioneering technology.”

Pierre-Antoine Aubourg, Chief Technology Officer, added: “Zephyr is a unique aircraft. Its performance during this flight underlines its technological robustness, compliance with flight procedures and safety models. Zephyr’s flight envelope is the most advanced in global HAPS, enabling safe and reliable performance and maximum oversight by AALTO and regulatory authorities. As we proceed to commercial services, we will continue to break new ground for aviation safety and performance.”

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