Swedish company Heart Aerospace and regional airline Loganair are to develop potential use cases for the use of hybrid-electric aircraft in the UK.
The two companies are to collaborate on establishing the use of the hybrid-electric regional aircraft within Loganair’s network.
Loganair is the largest regional airline by passenger numbers and fleet size within the UK.
Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30 hybrid-electric aircraft to have a capacity of 30 passengers, a fully-electric range of 200km (125 miles), and an extended hybrid range of 400km (250 miles). The aircraft will also have the capability to fly up to 800km (500 miles) with 25 passengers.
The company plans for the ES-30 to enter service in 2028.
Heart and Loganair will also engage with the Scottish and UK Governments and airports to promote and highlight the benefits of hybrid-electric aircraft as part of the partnership. Loganair will also join Heart Aerospace’s Industry Advisory Board, which consists of airlines, governments, leasing companies, and airports from all over the world, committed to support the electrification of air travel.
Simon Newitt, president and chief commercial officer of Heart Aerospace said, “This collaboration is an important step in our mission to make air travel more sustainable and we look forward to bringing clean and convenient solutions to Loganair in support of its ambitious goal to achieve net zero emissions across its operations by 2040.”
Luke Farajallah, CEO of Loganair said, “This collaboration with Heart Aerospace brings together two organisations who share a passion to see aviation emissions reduce in a realistic and meaningful way, and we see the ES-30 as being a strong contender to emerge as one of the leaders in this space.”
Heart Aerospace has a total of 250 firm orders for the ES-30, with options and purchase rights for an additional 120 planes. The company also has letters of intent for a further 191 airplanes.
