French aircraft manufacturer Aura Aero is the first aeronautical company to have been selected by the European Innovation Fund, an EU programme and one of the world’s largest funding programmes for the development of innovative low-carbon technologies. Funded by EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), this 95 million euro funding will help speed up the decarbonisation of air transport by contributing to the development of the ERA hybrid-electric regional aircraft.

“Reaching our climate neutrality goal by 2050 requires all sectors to contribute, not least aviation. This is why I am glad to see innovative projects such as Aura Aero’s hybrid-electric regional aircraft taking off. Innovation is key to success: I am convinced that decarbonisation can go hand in hand with competitiveness for the European aviation sector. The Commission is fully committed to support sustainable aviation fuels and innovations that help reduce emissions from the sector. This is what we are currently doing, including via the Innovation Fund’s support to Aura Aero’s project,” declares Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner responsible for climate, net zero and clean growth.

“We are very proud to be the first aeronautical company to benefit from revenues raised by the EU’s Emissions Trading System. To have been selected from among 85 projects in 18 countries is a great honour for us, but above all it's a sign of confidence and a strong signal from the European Union in favour of decarbonisation technologies,” adds Jérémy Caussade, CEO and co-founder of Aura Aero. “This is a very encouraging sign, and we are now in a very favourable position: our all-electric two-seater, Integral E, began its flight test campaign last December, and ERA is now less than two years away from its first flight.”

Aura Aero was selected for its HERMES project (Hybrid Electric Regional Aircraft Manufactured in Europe for Sustainable Aviation) with ERA (Electric Regional Aircraft). The main objective of this project is to finalise the development of ERA in view of its CS-23 type certification, enabling its entry into service, while simultaneously building up its industrial mean (the Aura Aero Factory opening in 2028, 1,600 jobs) to ensure its entry into service by 2030 and its serial production.

The ERA will be the world’s first regional hybrid-electric aircraft. It will enable the reduction of CO2 emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to thermal aircraft in its category, in line with the targets of the European Green Deal.

Thanks to its unique and innovative propulsion system, the ERA is an eco-responsible aircraft designed to lead the decarbonisation of regional aviation. It should enable a reduction in emissions equivalent to 10 million tons of CO2 in its first 10 years of operation, which will strongly contribute to the decarbonisation and development of the aviation sector in Europe, accounting for 4.4 per cent of European countries’ GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

Addressing the environmental challenges of the 21st century, the ERA is the most efficient solution for operators, both in terms of energy and operating and maintenance costs, offering a cost-effective solution to connect islands and regional destinations or for transporting freight over short or medium distances. A real vector of regional connectivity, the ERA will open up point-to-point routes and connect secondary airports.

ERA has already garnered more than 650 orders under letters of intent, valued at over $10.5 billion.