Aura Aero has secured more than 650 pre-orders for the ERA, its hybrid 19-seater, scheduled for entry into service by 2030.

Five new customers have just signed letters of intent with the French manufacturer to add the ERA to their fleets by the start of the new decade. These comprise Marathon Airlines, a Greek ACMI airline with 20 firm orders and 20 options; Solyu, a South Korean low-carbon aircraft lessor with 20 firm orders and 20 options; Jump Air, a Lithuanian ACMI and charter airline with 10 firm orders and 10 options; Safarilink, a Kenyan regional airline with four firm orders and two options, and an undisclosed customer from Europe with three firm orders and three options.

Drew McEwen, Aura Aero’s chief commercial officer comments: “We are very proud of the success achieved by our hybrid-electric aircraft, thanks to our commercial team and to Aelis Group, our dedicated global sales partner for ERA.”

Jérémy Caussade, president and co-founder of Aura Aero, adds: “Just four years after launching the programme, announcing today over 650 pre-orders for this aircraft, representing more than $10.5 billion in value, is a major milestone for us. The trust our customers place in us confirms the existence of a real market for this type of aircraft, and the backing of French and European institutions only strengthens that conviction. Earlier this year, we launched production of the first prototype parts, with a maiden flight planned in 2027 and entry into service by the end of the decade. ERA is designed to reconnect people in regions where aviation remains essential for accessibility, while playing a key role in decarbonising air transport and revitalising regional aviation.”

The ERA is a hybrid-electric and eco-responsible aircraft, designed to revitalise regional aviation while accelerating the decarbonisation of aviation. With eight electric motors (ENGINeUS, developed by Safran and first-ever electric aircraft engine to be certified) and two SAF-compatible turbo-generators, it will alternate hybrid and electric phases according to flight requirements, with a range of up to 900 nm.

Packed with innovations in avionics, aerodynamics and propulsion, the ERA offers a versatile solution for different missions, representing the most efficient solution for operators, both in terms of energy and maintenance costs. Capable of transporting 19 passengers or up to 1.9 tons of cargo, the aircraft can also be configured in business or special mission versions. The ERA can operate from large airports as well as short, unpaved runways and its 1.88 metre high, pressurised cabin ensures unrivalled passenger comfort in its category.

Meeting the environmental challenges of the 21st century, the ERA reduces CO2 emissions by up to 80 per cent compared with thermal aircraft in its class. By combining sustainability and economic viability, the ERA is redefining the future of aviation and reinvigorating regional aviation, whether connecting up islands and archipelagos or offering direct flights between regional destinations.