Monaco is now home to a new emblem soaring proudly across the skies, the Monaco-Moravia hot air balloon, unveiled during the Monaco Yacht Show 2025. This debut marks the beginning of a two-year partnership between the Club des Aéronautes de Monaco and Moravia Yachting, and coincides with the announcement that H.S.H. Prince Albert II has become Honorary President of the Club.
For Alain Cruteanschii, President and Founder of the Club des Aéronautes de Monaco, the moment was deeply meaningful. Speaking to HelloMonaco, he said:
“The Sovereign’s decision to support us by accepting the Honorary Presidency filled me with joy and pride. Since the birth of the Aéronautes de Monaco 25 years ago, we have always strived to ensure our sporting activity respects nature. With this exceptional commitment, we will continue working along this path.”
Innovation Meets Tradition
The newly unveiled balloon, redesigned while preserving its iconic red-and-white identity, now proudly carries the Moravia Yachting logo , a symbol of shared vision and international ambition. Its eco-credentials are equally remarkable: a lighter structure built with innovative materials, a double-insulated fabric reducing heat loss, and powered by bio-propane made from waste, a solution that cuts CO₂ emissions by 70%.
As Cruteanschii explained in his interview with HelloMonaco:
“We’re the first national team to have an ecological hot-air balloon. It’s lighter, insulated like a thermos, and it flies on clean energy. We’ve cut our carbon footprint in half over the last ten years. Not bad, really not bad.”
Yet, he emphasized, the Club’s approach is pragmatic rather than dogmatic:
“We’re not armchair ecologists. We test solutions, we share them, and sometimes we make mistakes. But we’re not afraid to say so. More than ecology, I prefer to speak of energy savings and preserving the planet.”
Moravia Yachting Joins the Adventure
The partnership with Moravia Yachting, part of the Hill Robinson Group, adds a new dimension to the Club’s ambitions. Niall Robinson, CEO of Moravia Yachting, expressed his enthusiasm:
“I have always wanted to experience hot air ballooning. Its silence, its grace, and its dependence on the wind echo my passion for classic yachts, which I consider true works of art, propelled by the wind, sustainable, and in harmony with nature.”
He continued:
“We are very proud to see Moravia’s image associated with Monaco’s hot air balloon. Wherever it goes, this unique balloon will carry a positive impact, both for Monaco and for Moravia Yachting, as one of its ambassadors.”
A Skyborne Flag for Monaco
Often described as the largest flag of Monaco in the world, the hot-air balloon has become a powerful symbol of the Principality’s innovation and environmental responsibility. With the Sovereign’s patronage, the Club is set to bring Monaco’s colours to prestigious festivals and international events, from crossing the Pyrenees, crossing the Alps, and visiting the United States, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
As Cruteanschii summed up:
“Our only competition now is against ourselves. That’s our motto, to keep improving.”
A Spectacle Above Monaco
The official presentation of the Monaco-Moravia hot air balloon took place on the Terrasses du Soleil, during the Monaco Yacht Show, offering the first glimpse of this striking symbol rising above the Principality. Then came yet another celebration with a majestic evening display on the Place du Palais Princier, where the balloon stood as an extraordinary meeting point between Monaco’s heritage and its future.
With the Sovereign’s support, the dedication of the Club des Aéronautes, and the backing of Moravia Yachting, Monaco’s skies have never looked more inspiring.
