Fleet of 30 Air Canada electric-hybrid aircraft will fly out of Pearson Airport in Mississauga

Canada’s flagship carrier is adding 30 new electric-hybrid aircraft to its fleet that will fly out of Pearson Airport in Mississauga.

The ES-30 aircraft are being developed by Heart Aerospace in Sweden and are expected to take to the skies for Air Canada by 2028, Canada’s largest airline said in an earlier news release.

Air Canada struck the deal recently, agreeing to purchase the zero-emission and “more cost efficient” aircraft for an undisclosed amount.

The “revolutionary regional aircraft,” which will be able to carry 30 passengers a distance of 200 kilometres in much quieter all-electric mode, will fly on battery power and yield significant operational savings and benefits, Air Canada officials say.

Under the agreement, Air Canada has also acquired a $5 million (U.S.) equity stake in Heart Aerospace.

“Air Canada has taken a leadership position in the industry to address climate change. 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,” Air Canada president and CEO Michael Rousseau said in a statement. “Already, Air Canada is supporting the development of new technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuels and carbon capture, to address climate change. We are now reinforcing our commitment by investing in revolutionary electric aircraft technology, both as a customer for the ES-30 and as an equity partner in Heart Aerospace.”

The lithium-ion battery-powered aircraft will need about 30 to 50 minutes to take a full charge, and their range could be doubled to 400 kilometres with use of reserve-hybrid generators that use low-carbon biofuel. If the passenger load is reduced to 25, the range could double once again, to 800 kilometres.

The Swedish aircraft builder said Canada’s flagship airline is an ideal partner.

“Air Canada is a strategically important partner for Heart Aerospace. The company has one of the world’s largest networks operated by regional turboprops, and it is also a progressive, future-leaning company, especially in the green transmission,” said Heart Aerospace founder and CEO Anders Forslund. “With the ES-30, we can start cutting emissions from air travel well before the end of this decade.”