AURA AERO reveals first firm orders for its ERA hybrid-electric airliner
March 2, 2026
French aircraft developer AURA AERO has announced that it has secured the first firm orders for its planned hybrid-electric ERA (Electric Regional Aircraft) airliner. The deal for the aircraft, which is planned to enter service in 2030, represents a major milestone for the programme, which the manufacturer hopes will transform the landscape for sustainable regional air travel.
AURA AERO receives first firm orders for its ERA aircraft
French aircraft developer AURA AERO said on 2 March that it has secured an order for an undisclosed number of ERA aircraft from Pan Européenne Air Service, a French executive aviation operator with bases at Lyon Airport (LYS) and Chambery Airport (CMF) in France.
New customer Pan Européenne Air Service has been specialising in customised business flights for nearly 50 years. It currently operates five Embraer aircraft (5 to 49 seats) and serves up to 500 destinations in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
According to Planespotters.net, Pan Européenne Air Service’s current fleet of five aircraft includes an EMB-135LR, an EMB-145LR, a Phenom 100E, a Phenom 300 and a Phenom 300E. The company is aiming to be one of the first in the world to operate a hybrid-electric aircraft with paying passengers.
According to a statement issued by the planemaker, the French private airline has been supporting AURA AERO and the ERA programme from its conception, and the placing of a firm order represents a firm commitment from the carrier to AURA AERO’s pursuit of decarbonised aviation.
Although the French startup developer had signed Letters of Intent (LoI) with up to 16 different air operators from around the world for more than 700 ERA aircraft valued at $12 billion, this is the first time that any customer has offered a firm financial commitment to the ERA programme.
“This commitment marks a new and important step both for Pan Européenne Air Service and for the ERA program, moving from a dynamic of development to a phase of implementation, driven by close collaboration and a shared ambition to accelerate the transition of regional aviation,” said an AURA AERO statement.
Announcing the deal, Jérémy Caussade, President and co-founder of AURA AERO, said that Pan Européenne Air Service, as the launch customer for the ERA, shared the same vision as AURA AERO for future decarbonised flights and that it was proud to partner with another French company to bring the ERA to commercial reality.
Meanwhile, Antoine Foessel and Clément Jacquot, co-CEOs and owners of Pan Européenne Air Service, said that their company’s ambitions are precisely aligned with those of AURA AERO and that “it was only natural that we chose this aircraft to be able to offer the first decarbonised air transport service in history.”
AURA AERO and its ERA hybrid electric aircraft
The ERA is a 19-seater hybrid-electric regional airliner with a range of up to 900 miles (1,500 km). AURA AERO claims that due to its hybrid propulsion system, the company (through its ERA aircraft) will be able to reduce carbon emissions by 80% compared to similar aircraft using only thermal propulsion.
The ERA aircraft will be powered by eight electric motors (ENGINeUS, developed by Safran and the world’s first certified electric aircraft engine) and two SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) compatible turbogenerators. It will automatically alternate between hybrid and electric modes depending on the flight phase.
AURA AERO states that its ERA aircraft is a versatile aircraft that can be configured for passenger transport, business aviation, cargo, or special missions. By combining sustainability and economic viability, “ERA is redefining the future of aviation and revitalising regional aviation, whether connecting islands and archipelagos or offering direct flights between regional destinations.”
The AURA AERO ERA is gaining some traction
Although its progress has been steady to date, AURA AERO will be hoping that these latest orders will give its ERA aircraft the boost the programme needs to keep it on track. While the programme has garnered a good deal of interest in the past, the placing of its first form orders marks a significant shift upwards in terms of its credibility on the world stage, where the race to develop hybrid-electric aircraft has been heating upover the past two years.
In August 2024, the ERA programme received €17.5 million of European funding to accelerate development from the European Innovation Council and the SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) to expedite the development of the hybrid-electric aircraft. It is also supported by the French state within the framework of the France 2030 plan.
Later that same month, Electricité de France (EDF) Group confirmed its acquisition of a stake in AURA Aero, boosting its development funds further. Since then, other LoIs have been signed with various companies and, at the Paris Air Show in June 2025, the firm said it had taken commitments for its ERA aircraft to 650 airframes.
While the company is currently based at Toulouse-Francazal Airport (QYF) in the south of France, in October 2024, the company unveiled plans to build a manufacturing and assembly plant at Daytona Beach International Airport in Volusia County.
Announcing the plans, AURA AERO said that it plans to produce 100 of the 19-seater hybrid-electric regional aircraft (ERA) per year at the new US facility. Construction on the plant will begin in late 2026, with AURA AERO planning to begin assembling aircraft there in Q4 2028.
Featured image: AURA AERO
