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

Saab AB

23/09/2026 16:09

Adds details from executive interview throughout
By Anshuman  Tripathy
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 deposit-backed purchase agreement builds on a 2023 letter of intent with Dallas-based JSX, which operates regional flights from private terminals, and includes purchase rights for 50 more aircraft.

Here are more details:
Heart's redesigned ES-36 would seat 36 passengers, up from 30 in the previous version, boosting payload capacity by 20%. Heart and JSX did not disclose financial terms of their deal.
Heart CEO Anders Forslund told Reuters existing airline customers, including United Airlines UAL.O and Air Canada AC.TO, are expected to transition their interest from the ES-30 to the ES-36.
Heart, which counts Swedish defense group Saab SAABb.ST among its investors, is building the first pre-production ES-36 at its Los Angeles facility and targeting its first flight in the second half of 2028, with entry into service planned for 2031 upon US Federal Aviation Administration certification.
Forslund declined to disclose the company's cash position but said it would require additional fundraising before the aircraft enters service.
JSX CEO Alex Wilcox said the ES-36 could make short-haul routes economically viable.
According to Heart, the ES-36 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.
The deal highlights electric and hybrid-electric aircraft makers' push for low-cost, low-emission options for short-haul flights between smaller airports. 
Virginia-based Electra is also developing a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft, EL9 Ultra Short, expected to make its first flight by early 2028.

 (Reporting by Anshuman Tripathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Diti Pujara)
 ((Anshuman.Tripathy@thomsonreuters.com;))