Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

New regional aircraft that are more operationally flexible and with lower costs could unlock time savings on more than 2,600 U.S. domestic journeys of between one and three hours, according to a new study by Electra, which is developing a hybrid-electric nine-seat model called the EL9 Ultra Short. The company’s Direct Aviation Market Outlook study, published on Wednesday, examines the case for air services to replace cars for trips of up to around 265 miles for which there are currently no scheduled airline options.
According to Virginia-based Electra, the EL9—which is intended to operate from landing strips as short as 150 feet—could open up air routes that are not currently viable. Part of the plan hinges on the aircraft being able to fly from so-called “distributed access points” that could include parking lots, rooftops, fields, or barges.
The foundation for Electra’s analysis is the daily road trips currently undertaken in the U.S. by 35 million passengers of between 50 and 500 miles. These involve 1.6 million passenger-miles annually, and include more than 6,000 routes with over 1,000 travelers each day.
Electra believes that 80% of the trips between 50 and 265 miles lack a practical air service option, forcing travelers to use cars. For routes used by at least 1,000 travelers daily, the research estimated that 1,851 would deliver time savings of an hour, rising to two hours on another 540 routes, and three hours on 227 routes.
<h2>Direct Aviation Routes</h2>
The transportation market that Electra defines as “direct aviation” is broken down into the following four sub-sectors: intercity connectors (moving people between urban centers), leisure launchpads (vacation destinations), airport feeders (taking passengers to and from airline hubs), and small community service (connecting rural residents with regional cities). The company expects to see early U.S. demand clusters in the Northeast Corridor, the Texas Triangle (Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin), Southern California, Florida, and the Midwest.
An example of the so-called “leisure launchpad” routes could connect Manassas in Virginia with the Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia. A “small community service” journey might include connections between Philadelphia and State College. Projected airport feeder services could cover Jacksonville to Orlando, Portland to Seattle, and Norfolk to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.
According to Electra’s research, the U.S. Direct Aviation market could result in requirements for between 12,000 and 16,000 aircraft over the first 10 years. The company has reported signed letters of intent with more than <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2026-04-22/bristow-electra-test-ultra-short-aircraft-norway">60 prospective operators</a> covering more than 2,200 aircraft orders.
Electra, which is backed by Lockheed Martin Ventures, Honeywell, and Safran, is aiming to start flying an EL9 prototype in 2027 as it strives to complete type certification under Part 23 rules in 2029. It has already been flight testing a two-seat technology demonstrator called the EL2.
Electra says the EL9 will be able to carry nine passengers and a pilot on sectors of up to 1,100 nm with a 45 minutes of energy reserves for flight diversions. The aircraft is expected to have a maximum cruise speed of 175 knots and generate 75 dBA of noise on takeoff.&nbsp;
The basis for <a href="https://electra.aero/direct-aviation">Electra's research</a> was analysis of existing travel patterns over a three-month period in Spring 2025 that included location-based data, connected&nbsp; vehicle data, and credit card use. Using a pilot program developed by Georgia Tech University, the work considered road trips of between 50 and 500 miles, as well as airport feeder trips of between 30 and 500 miles.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Electra Report Maps Out U.S. Direct Aviation Market Opportunity

Hybrid-electric aircraft developer wants to expand regional air services 

Electra believes aircraft like its EL9 Ultra Short could support viable air services on journeys of up to 500 miles, getting travelers out of their cars.

Electra Report Shows Direct Aviation Market Opportunity

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Howard Hardee

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

In this article

Electra

More In Airlines

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

ATR Chases New Regional Markets for Twin Turboprops

Iran war and wider geopolitical pressure stall buying decisions

Embraer Racks Up E-Jet Orders at Farnborough

30 firm orders led by Abra

Gulf Air May Buy JetZero’s Blended-wing-body Z4

Japan Airlines also expresses interest at Farnborough Airshow

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN