Air Canada has announced plans to buy its first electric airplanes—an order of 30 battery-electric regional aircraft from Heart Aerospace. The airline has also acquired a $5-million equity stake in the Sweden-based manufacturer.

Heart’s ES-30 aircraft is currently under development, and is expected to enter service in 2028. It can carry 30 passengers seated three across (in a 2×1 configuration), and features a galley and a lavatory.

The ES-30 is powered by lithium-ion batteries, but is also equipped with generators that can use sustainable aviation fuel. Fully loaded, the ES-30 is projected to have an all-electric, zero-emission range of 200 km. This can be extended to 400 km with power supplemented by the generators, and up to 800 km if the load is restricted to 25 passengers. Charging time for the aircraft is expected to be 30 to 50 minutes.

“Air Canada is a strategically important partner for Heart Aerospace,” said Heart founder and CEO Anders Forslund. “The company has one of the world’s largest networks operated by regional turboprops, and it is also a progressive, future-leaning company.”

“The introduction into our fleet of the ES-30 electric regional aircraft from Heart Aerospace will be a step forward to our goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Michael Rousseau, CEO of Air Canada. “Already, Air Canada is supporting the development of new technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuels and carbon capture, to address climate change.”

Source: Air Canada