KLM, the Dutch flagship airline, has officially joined the industry advisory board of Heart Aerospace and aims to contribute to the design, development, and marketing of the regional electric aircraft that this company is developing, known as the ES-30. This advisory board is composed of airlines, government agencies, leasing companies, and airport administrators.
Maarten Stienen, COO of KLM, stated that “supporting zero-emission technologies is imperative. We must also contribute to the ecosystem necessary for their proper implementation. The decarbonization process of air transport is gradual and does not have a one-size-fits-all solution. Collaborating with partners throughout the aviation chain is essential for devising innovative and effective solutions.” KLM is a member of one of Europe’s largest airline conglomerates, Air France-KLM, and has placed sustainability at the core of its corporate strategy.
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In a similar vein, Simon Newitt, President and CCO of Heart Aerospace, added to the comments of his Dutch counterpart: “With their inclusion on our board, we gain access to KLM’s extensive operational expertise. We are excited about the contributions KLM can bring to Heart Aerospace and to our project.”
Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a regional electric aircraft with a standard capacity for 30 passengers, powered by electric motors and batteries. The ES-30 will have a fully electric range of 200 kilometers. Using a hybrid reserve configuration, which will consist of two turbogenerators powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), it will have additional power for longer flights, complementing electric propulsion. The company has received 250 firm orders for the ES-30, with options and purchase rights for an additional 120 aircraft. It has also received letters of intent for another 91 aircraft.
