FutureFlight
South Korean Airline Hi-Air Plans To Operate Plana's Hybrid-electric VTOL Aircraft
A letter of intent, signed on July 17, builds on earlier provisional sales for 70 of Plana's CP-01 aircraft to Ghenus Air in the U.S. and Japan's SkyTaxi.
Plana chief product officer Jinmo Lee and Gloria Aviation CEO Dae-hyun Shin shake hands
Plana chief product officer Jinmo Lee and Gloria Aviation CEO Dae-hyun Shin signed a memorandum of understanding at Plana's research and development center in Icheon, South Korea, on July 11, 2023. (Photo: Plana)

South Korean regional airline Hi-Air plans to add 30 of Plana's CP-01 hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft under a letter of intent signed on July 17. Under the agreement, Plana, which is also based in Korea, will deliver the first 10 aircraft in 2031, with the remaining 20 to follow later.

Seoul-based Hi-Air started operations in 2019 and currently operates four ATR72-500 twin turboprop aircraft across a network consisting of four cities in South Korea and three in Japan. It has not yet said where it will operate Plana's CP-01, which is expected to carry a pilot and six passengers on sectors of up to 500 kilometers (313 miles).