newstodate.aero

Jan 17, 2023 (newstodate): Is the future of aviation really with electrically-driven aircraft in commercial service?
   One company spearheading the much-hyped vision is Sweden's Heart Aerospace that launched its 19-seats ES-19 electric airplane, fetching orders from United Airlines and Mesa Air Group for a total of 200 electric aircraft with an option for an additional 100 planes, as well as LoIs with carriers like Braathens Regional Airlines, Icelandair, and SAS.
   Now, Heart Aerospace has left the ES-19 and replaced it with the development of a 30-seats ES-30 hybrid/electrical aircraft, and so far Heat Aerospace has secured LoIs for a total of 96 ES-30 aircraft with many of the ES-19 customers confirming their continued support.
   But not Finnair that is taking a more mature and balanced approach to future decisions on technologies to solve the emission challenges.
   In 2021, Finnair signed an LoI to acquire up to 20 of the ES-19 electric aircraft for use on shortest haul routes, but:
   -We have previously said that we see the potential for the 19-seater electric aircraft under development by Heart Aerospace for our short routes. However, Heart Aerospace has recently changed the development direction of its project and is now preparing a larger hybrid aircraft that combines the use of liquid fuel and electricity, so we have not renewed our previous LoI, says Finnair's Senior Sustainability Manager, Tuomo Karppinen, on Finnair's Investor Blog.
   -New tools for reducing emissions are coming, but there are no quick solutions; technology development takes time. Now in the 2020s, it is important to increase the production volumes of SAF, develop more fuel-efficient aircraft technology and enable the use of different energy options in flying.  
   -New aircraft technologies and the energy transition to green hydrogen will take place in the 2030s. However, we will still need offsetting even in the 2040s in order to bring the net emissions of flying to zero, Says Mr Karppinen.