Reinventing. Reintroducing. Reconnecting.
Mesa becomes the first U.S. regional airline to sign agreement for all-electric regional aircraft
Mesa continues electrification and de-carbonization of regional air travel with Heart Aerospace
Working with Heart Aerospace, Mesa continues its commitment to sustainable aviation solutions and the incorporation of environmentally friendly technology into regional aviation. Mesa will support Heart in their goal of making the most affordable and sustainable transportation for regional travel worldwide.
Details of the Deal
Expanding on the efforts that Mesa and United have made in the emerging transition to electric powered flight in an effort to continue to support clean aviation, Mesa continued exploring opportunities with leading electric aircraft companies. Given the regional nature of Heart Aerospace and Mesa’s extensive background in 19 seat aircraft, working together to bring the first regional electric aircraft to market simply made sense.
Mesa has not only invested in Heart, but also plans to add 100 ES-19 aircraft to its regional fleet, revolutionizing air service to small markets as one of the first network air carriers to help decarbonize air travel through the use of electric aircraft.
About Heart
Heart’s mission is to create the fastest, most affordable and sustainable transportation for regional travel to every corner of the world. Based in Säve Airport in Gothenburg, Sweden, the team at Heart are working at the cutting edge of technology while contributing towards a sustainable future building their first aircraft, the ES-19. This is a nineteen-passenger airliner with an operating range of about 250 miles. The ES-19 is a fully electric aircraft, and their goal is to have the aircraft certified for commercial operation by 2026.
How It Works…
Model ES-19 and simulated flying
CEO of Heart Aerospace, Anders Forslund, discusses the ES-19 propulsion system with retired American captain and former APA President, David Bates.
An Opportunity for Reintroduction
It all started in Farmington, New Mexico, at Four Corners Regional Airport. Our founder, Larry Risley, and his wife Janie saw the potential for regular commercial air service between Farmington and Albuquerque. What started as a small air shuttle, blossomed into a regional airline with 45 flights a day, 5 destinations, and certified 19 seat airplanes. With an average fare of $70, these flights were accessible to the communities they served.
Mesa was the world’s largest operator of 19-seat aircraft and has unparalleled expertise in connecting smaller communities to the national transportation system. Over the past 30 years, as the economics of operating 19-seat aircraft became uneconomic, operators exited markets and practically all 19 seat aircraft have been withdrawn from commercial service. Today there are no 19-seat aircraft operating in scheduled passenger service in the United States.
Working with Heart brings huge potential for the regional industry and Mesa. Hundreds of communities, and hundreds of thousands of passengers can once again look forward air transportation and reliable service, with the added benefit of this travel occurring on an environmentally friendly electric aircraft. Operating Heart’s new ES-19 aircraft presents an opportunity to not only reintroduce Mesa to those communities but serve new communities, and make air travel accessible to markets that have been neglected over the past three decades.
Map of Service in 1994
