Surf Air Mobility Secures Early Delivery Positions for 90 Electra eSTOL Aircraft

Dark/Light Mode (16/02/24)  Surf Air Mobility has secured early delivery positions for 90 Electra hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft.

The aim is to integrate the aircraft into Surf Air's national flight network including Southern Airways Express and Mokulele Airlines, as part of the company’s plan to use its technology-driven, on-demand air mobility platform and Aircraft-as-a-Service (ACaaS) offering to support the launch, growth, and optimization of new electrified aircraft.

The Electra eSTOL aircraft’s ability to take off and land in as little as 150 feet could enable direct-to-destination air transportation beyond large airports, including small regional airports and novel Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure, expanding regional transportation to a broader customer base than private aviation currently serves.

Surf Air Electra eSTOL

The agreement between the two companies includes:

- Preferred delivery positions on 90 eSTOL aircraft from Electra;

- Collaboration on the development of route networks to be served by Surf Air’s air mobility network leveraging the Electra eSTOL aircraft;

- Surf Air is the preferred lessor and provider of Electra eSTOL aircraft to Surf Air customers under its Aircraft-as-a-Service leasing program; and

- Surf Air, its data services partner(s), and Electra will collaborate on the development of predictive analytics systems to reduce overall operating costs and streamline operations.

“As the country’s largest commuter airline, Surf Air is at the forefront of addressing the growing demand for cleaner, more affordable and convenient travel options. Electra is pleased to partner with Surf Air in spearheading the decarbonization of regional business aviation through the integration of our eSTOL aircraft into their fleet,” said John S. Langford, founder and CEO of Electra.

Traditionally, smaller regional Part 135 operators have not had the same access to aircraft funding options and software services as larger commercial air carriers. Surf Air’s Aircraft-as-a-Service program is being designed to solve this problem and lower the barrier to entry by providing the necessary financing and software tools to enable a new generation of regional aircraft and air operators to launch, grow, and optimize their businesses.

In addition to supporting the growth and distribution of innovative sustainable aircraft, such as the Electra eSTOL, Surf Air continues to develop its own electrified powertrain technology for the Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft whose development is supported by an exclusive relationship with Textron Aviation. Surf Air plans to use its platform to bring the electrified Caravan aircraft to market on a global scale, thus proving what it can do for other aircraft makers as well.

“Electra stands out as one of the early market leaders in regional air mobility, and we’re excited to bring them onto our platform,” said Stan Little, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Surf Air Mobility. “Their innovations around hybrid-electric, short takeoff and landing aircraft - which can essentially take off and land on a football field-sized space - will unlock tremendous opportunities within the changing landscape of regional air mobility. We intend to leverage our leading position to become the definitive launch platform for new advanced aircraft technologies such as Electra.”

See also: Urban Air Mobility and eVTOL - HD Video Interview with Yannick Assouad PhD, EVP Avionics, Thales

PODCAST

Latest exclusive video interviews: Future of Air Travel - Interview with Sumesh Patel, President of SITA Asia Pacific; Miss International Queen 2024 (MIQ 2024) - Interview with Alisa Phanthusak, MD, Tiffany's Show Pattaya, Thailand; 16 HD Video Interviews from Routes Europe 2024 in Aarhus, Denmark; 9 HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia; Standard to Open Residences in Hua Hin and Phuket, Thailand; Video Interview with Amar Lalvani, Executive Chairman; 9 Exclusive Video Interviews from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos; 8 NTO Press Conferences from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos; 13 HD Video Interviews from World Travel Market 2023 in London, England; 5 HD Video Interviews from APG World Connect 2023 in Monaco, France; and 15 HD Video Interviews from Routes World 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye.