Heart Aerospace unveils new airplane design, confirms new shareholders

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- Swedish electric airplane maker Heart Aerospace has unveiled significant design updates to its first electric aircraft and confirmed Air Canada, one of North America's largest airlines and Saab, the Swedish aerospace and defense-company, as new minority shareholders.

The new airplane design, called the ES-30, is a regional electric airplane with a capacity of 30 passengers and it replaces the company's earlier 19-seat design, the ES-19.

It is driven by electric motors powered by batteries, which allows the airplane to operate with zero emissions and low noise.

According to a statement, Air Canada and Saab have each invested US$5 million in Heart Aerospace. In addition to its investment, Air Canada has also placed a purchase order for 30 ES-30 aircraft. (US$1 = RM4.535)

“We are thrilled to have two such strong partners as Saab and Air Canada join our mission to electrify regional air travel,” said founder and chief executive officer of Heart Aerospace, Anders Forslund.

“The ES-30 is an electric airplane that the industry can use. We have designed a cost-efficient airplane that allows airlines to deliver good service on a wide range of routes,” added Forslund.

The ES-30 has a comfortable three-abreast flat-floor cabin seating, and it features a galley and a lavatory. Cabin stowage and overhead bins will add to the large external baggage and cargo compartment and provide airlines with network flexibility.

In the same statement, Heart Aerospace also announced it will establish the world's first commercial electric aircraft industry at Säve airport, in Gothenburg, Sweden.

It will build sustainable state-of-the-art offices, production, and flight test facilities which, together, will form a new campus that will go by the name, Northern Runway.

A first phase in the establishment of Heart Aerospace’s Northern Runway is scheduled to be finalised by mid-2024, with test flights scheduled to start in 2026. Heart Aerospace expects to deliver its first ES-30 aircraft in 2028.

-- BERNAMA