United Airlines buys 100 electric planes from Heart Aerospace

United Airlines is making a new bet on electric air transport as part of its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050.

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The company’s investment arm, United Airlines Ventures (UAV), along with its partners Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) and Mesa Airlines, announced a new investment in the electric aircraft start-up based in Gothenburg, Sweden. , Heart Aerospace, which will accelerate the development of its ES-19 electric aircraft to enter commercial service by 2026.

A United spokesperson declined to disclose the financial terms of the investment. Heart Aerospace CEO Anders Forslund confirmed to FOX Business that the startup raised a total of $ 35 million from investors in its most recent funding round.

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In addition to the investment, United has conditionally agreed to purchase 100 ES-19 aircraft, once the aircraft meets the airline’s safety, business and operational requirements. Mesa Airlines, United’s key strategic partner in bringing electric aircraft to commercial service, has also agreed to add 100 ES-19 aircraft to its fleet, subject to similar requirements.

United has conditionally agreed to purchase 100 ES-19 aircraft, once the aircraft meets the airline’s safety, business and operational requirements. Mesa Airlines, United’s key strategic partner in bringing electric aircraft to commercial service, ha

Once operational, the ES-19 will be able to fly on more than 100 United regional routes from most of its hubs, including Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Purdue University Airport ( LAF) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Modesto City-County Airport (MOD).

The 19-seat aircraft, which uses electric motors instead of jet engines and batteries instead of jet fuel, has the potential to fly customers up to 250 miles. The ES-19 will be a larger aircraft than any of its all-electric competitors and will have zero operational emissions.

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Carmichael Roberts of Breakthrough Energy Ventures says the ES-19 will be “transformational in reducing industry emissions” and enable low-cost, quiet and clean large-scale regional travel at a fraction of the cost.

UAV President Michael Leskinen noted that the airline recognizes that its customers “want even more to own their own carbon footprint” and stressed that the regional short-haul air transport market will play a key role in the evolution of the ES-19.

“As battery technology improves, larger caliber planes should become viable, but we’re not going to wait to start the journey,” Leskinen added. “That is why we are eager to begin our work with Heart, so that together we can increase the availability of electric airliners and use them for passenger flights over the next five years.”

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In addition to Heart Aerospace, United announced in February an agreement with California-based air mobility company Archer, under which it will purchase up to 200 fully electric air taxis from Archer to help quickly transport United customers to the United States. The airport as early as 2024. Once operational, the battery-powered aircraft is expected to carry customers up to 60 miles away and at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.

United also plans to purchase at least 15 Overture jets from Colorado-based Boom Supersonic capable of traveling at speeds of Mach 1.7 (around 1,300 mph) and cut flight time between Newark and London to just three. and a half hours, Newark to Frankfurt, Germany in four hours and from San Francisco to Tokyo in six hours. Overture planes are expected to start flying in 2026 and carry passengers by 2029.

Commercial aviation accounts for around 2% of global carbon emissions, according to the International Council for Clean Transport.