By Judith Gicobi
As more airlines adopt cutting-edge technologies to save pollution and fuel costs, Air Canada announced on Thursday that it would purchase 30 battery-powered regional aircraft from Heart Aerospace, marking the company’s first purchase of an electric aircraft.
In response to increasing pressure from authorities and environmental organizations on the effects of the billions of additional passengers predicted to fly in the ensuing decades, international airlines are speeding up their plans to combat climate change.
Heart, a Swedish airline, is developing an electric-hybrid aircraft that will have a seating capacity of up to 30 passengers and produce no emissions when it enters service in 2028, according to a statement from Canada’s largest airline.
The release omitted mentioning the deal’s value.
The arrangement between Air Canada and Heart Aerospace, which also includes a $5 million (about Ksh. 602 million) ownership share in the startup, comes after a 2021 agreement by United Airlines, a U.S. airline, to buy 100 of the 19-seat aircraft
