Heart Aerospace unveils larger hybrid-electric aircraft, lands 50-plane JSX deal

• Heart's redesigned ES-36 would seat 36 passengers, up from 30 in the previous version, boosting payload capacity by 20%.
• Backed by United Airlines and Air Canada, Heart is building the first pre-production ES-36 at its Los Angeles facility, targeting its first flight in the second half of 2028, with entry into service planned for 2031 after being certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
• The deposit-backed purchase agreement builds on a 2023 letter of intent with Dallas-based JSX, which operates regional flights from private terminals, including purchase rights for 50 more.
• Heart said the aircraft is designed to operate at costs 40% lower than conventional regional planes, a category that includes aircraft such as Bombardier's CRJ-550.
• The aircraft can fly up to 125 miles on battery power alone, or up to 745 miles in hybrid mode using gas turbine-powered generators.

Sept. 23 (Reuters) - Heart Aerospace unveiled a redesigned 36-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft on Wednesday and said public charter carrier JSX had committed to buy 50 of these planes.

The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal.

Electric and hybrid-electric aircraft makers are making a push for low-cost, low-emission options for short-haul flights between smaller airports. Virginia-based startup Electra is developing a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft, the EL9 Ultra Short, that is expected to make its first flight by early 2028.