Heart Aerospace redesigns its electric aircraft

Swedish manufacturer Heart Aerospace has announced it has redesigned its planned electric aircraft. The aircraft has grown significantly and is now called the ES-30, a 30-seat regional commuter aircraft, replacing its initial planned ES-19 that the company launched in September 2020.

Next to the redesign, the company also announced that all previous committed airlines has reaffirmed their Letter of Intents (LoI) and orders. Heart also announced that Saab has joined the company as a minority shareholder and that it secured an investment and a purchase order for 30 ES-30s from Air Canada.

The largest commitment for the ES-30 is from United Airlines, which has agreed to commit to 200 ES-30s, with options on another 100, to be operated by Mesa Air Group for United Express. Other companies that have placed and updated their LoIs are Braathens, Icelandair, SAS, Sounds Air and lessor Rockton.

The new and updated ES-30 will be able to fly a maximum of 30 passengers on an all-electric flight of 200 km. However, the ES-30 will also feature two turbo generators, powered by sustainable aviation fuel to increase its range, enabling airlines to fly as far as 800 km with 25 passengers. Production of the ES-30 will be taken place at Gothenburg, Sweden and Heart plans entry into commercial service of the aircraft in 2028.

Illustrations by Heart Aerospace.