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Electra and Flyv Partner for On-Demand Air Mobility

JANUARY 3, 2022 BY SUSAN MCKEE

Startup airline orders 100 hybrid-electric short take-off and landing aircraft for 

underserved regional European markets

Electra.aero, a US-based clean aviation technology company, and Flyv, a German start-up airline specializing in on-demand air mobility, have partnered to employ a new generation of hybrid-electric aircraft in underserved regional travel markets in Europe.

The ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) fixed-wing plane uses quiet distributed electric propulsion and sustainable flight technology to take off and land on spaces “as small as rooftops, parking lots and soccer fields,” according to the company website.

The piloted plane delivers lower emissions and operating costs than conventional aircraft making on-demand regional air travel commercially feasible.. Batteries are recharged mid-flight, eliminating the need for ground charging infrastructure and enabling quick flight turnaround in diverse environments.

The Flyv service is an airline focused on regional air mobility, initially operating between airports and eventually providing point-to-point intercity travel. In lieu of a traditional hub-and-spoke network, the Flyv scheduling platform uses a proprietary algorithm to optimize the daily flight schedule based on paid bookings and operational constraints.

According to the company, customers will have a guaranteed fixed travel timeframe to their destination at the time of booking, and exact itinerary details prior to departure.

“Traditional airlines are focused on capacity, not on demand,” explained Flyv CEO Anton Lutz. “The economics were a challenge with conventional aircraft. The cost-effectiveness of Electra’s high-performance eSTOL aircraft is the puzzle piece that makes the Flyv model work.”

Under a Memorandum of Understanding, Flyv will be Electra’s air mobility services partner in Europe, and Electra will be Flyv’s OEM partner for regional air mobility services in Europe and elsewhere. The agreement includes a commitment by Flyv to purchase of up to 100 Electra eSTOL aircraft.

“There is a gap in transportation services today between where ground transport is effective and where large transport aircraft are providing efficient service,” said John S. Langford, Founder and CEO of Electra.aero. “We designed Electra’s eSTOL aircraft to fill that gap, providing a more sustainable transport option than cars or traditional aircraft for short and medium distance routes up to about 500 miles.”

The two companies say they will jointly explore urban and regional networks to be served by Flyv, and will collaborate on elements of eSTOL performance, economics, and passenger experience as well as joint marketing initiatives.

The global urban and regional advanced air mobility market is forecast by Morgan Stanley at $1 trillion. Sustainable electric and hybrid-electric aircraft are set to be a key element in making the market feasible.

Legacy carriers, including United Airlines and American Airlines, have announced significant investments in electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft and other alternate propulsion technology to serve urban air mobility and regional networks while meeting sustainability goals.