United Airlines (Ventures (UAV)) has signed an agreement with Heart Aerospace to purchase 100 of its ES-19 aircraft “to decarbonize regional air travel.”
The ES-19 uses electric motors and batteries instead of jet engines and jet fuel, and has a range of 400 km. It is expected to be available for commercial flights beginning in 2026, with United stating it could operate on more than 100 of its regional routes from hubs such as Chicago O’Hare International and San Francisco International.
This is a conditional agreement that is conditional on the aircraft meeting the airline’s safety, business and operational requirements.
The airline has also invested in the Swedish start-up alongside Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) and codeshare partner Mesa Airlines. The latter has also agreed to add 100 ES-19 aircraft to its fleet.
The investment is part of the airline’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100 percent by 2050 without relying on traditional carbon offsets. Earlier this year, United signed an agreement with Archer Aviation to accelerate production of electric short-haul aircraft.
