FutureFlight
United Airlines Backs Heart's Electric Regional Airliner With Investment and Provisional Order
United Airlines Ventures is making an unspecified investment in Heart Aerospace's plans to develop a 19-seat electric regional airliner and says that United partner operator Mesa Airlines will add some to its fleet.
Heart Aerospace ES-19 electric regional airliner
Heart Aerospace's ES-19 electric regional airliner is expected to enter commercial service from 2026 on routes of up to around 250 miles. (Image: Heart Aerospace)

United Airlines Ventures (UAV) and Mesa Air Group are joining Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) to invest in electric aircraft developer Heart Aerospace in a $35 million Series A funding round. The Heart Aerospace ES-19, a 19-seat electric aircraft under development that would fly to a range of 250 miles, will enter service before the end of the decade, according to the Swedish start-up.

Parent company United Airlines on July 13 said that, along with United Express partner Mesa Airlines, it has conditionally agreed to purchase 200 ES-19s  “once the aircraft meet United's safety, business, and operating requirements.” The two operators also hold options for another 100 of the aircraft. Earlier this year, United and Mesa announced plans to add up to 200 of Archer's four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to their fleets as part of plans to offer passengers transportation to and from major hub airports.

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