Thirty ES-30 Electric Regional Aircraft will be joining Air Canada’s fleet, according to a purchase agreement announced by the carrier yesterday.

Currently being developed by Heart Aerospace of Sweden, the regional electric-hybrid aircraft are expected to enter service in 2028. They will generate zero emissions flying on battery power and yield significant operational savings and benefits. Under the agreement, Air Canada has also acquired a US$5 million equity stake in Heart Aerospace.

Air Canada: ES-30 from Air Canada on Vimeo.

“Air Canada has taken a leadership position in the industry to address climate change. The introduction into our fleet of the ES-30 electric regional aircraft from Heart Aerospace will be a step forward to our goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Michael Rousseau, president and CEO of Air Canada. “Already, Air Canada is supporting the development of new technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuels and carbon capture, to address climate change. We are now reinforcing our commitment by investing in revolutionary electric aircraft technology, both as a customer for the ES-30 and as an equity partner in Heart Aerospace.”

The ES-30 will allow Air Canada to serve regional and commuter routes more sustainably, providing low-emission connectivity to local communities over the medium-to-long term. It will be capable of carrying 30 passengers seated three across (in a 2×1 configuration), with a galley and lavatory.

The aircraft will be powered by lithium-ion batteries, and will be quieter, have better operational parameters, be more reliable, and have a smaller environmental footprint than conventional turbo-prop aircraft. It will also be equipped with reserve-hybrid generators that can use sustainable aviation fuel.

Fully loaded, the ES-30 is projected to have an all-electric, zero-emission range of 200 kilometers. This can be extended to 400 kilometers with power supplemented by the generators, and up to 800 kilometers if the load is restricted to 25 passengers. Charging time for the aircraft is expected to be 30- to 50-minutes.

*Please note: This Air Canada press release contains forward-looking statements.