JSX to buy 332 hybrid-electric planes for regional air service

JSX, the world’s only 5-star premium regional air carrier, has announced its plan to buy up to 332 hybrid-electric planes from three different manufacturers, aiming to lead the way in sustainable and accessible regional air travel.

The company has signed Letters of Intent to acquire up to 82 Electra eSTOLs, 150 Aura Aero Eras, and 100 Heart Aerospace ES-30s, with delivery expected to start in 2028. These planes have different capacities and ranges, but all share the features of low emissions, low noise, and low operating costs.

“JSX is, by far, America’s highest rated and most innovative air carrier, and today’s order of hybrid-electric aircraft exemplifies our commitment to achievable, customer-friendly, carbon-reducing solutions that will offer the lower costs essential to providing vital air service to smaller communities across the country,” says Alex Wilcox, JSX CEO & Co-Founder.

“As the network airlines order ever-larger aircraft it is inevitable that more and more small markets will be abandoned. Electra, Aura Aero, and Heart Aerospace are visionary organizations that share in JSX’s commitment to serving smaller communities, working together with us to weave sustainable regional air travel back into the fabric of American commerce and freedom of movement.”

JSX said the move was in response to the Biden administration’s call for the aviation industry to cut carbon emissions and create more U.S. jobs. The company also said it would be able to serve thousands of small communities and regional airports that are currently underserved or unreachable by commercial airlines, thanks to the exceptional performance and flexibility of the hybrid-electric planes.

JSX is known for its innovative and customer-centric approach to air travel, offering by-the-seat public charter flights, spacious cabins, and inflight Wi-Fi powered by SpaceX’s Starlink. The company said its latest announcement was another milestone in its class-defining suite of services and products.

“Electra is thrilled to be a key part of JSX’s innovative vision for the future of regional air mobility. Our eSTOL aircraft is uniquely positioned to deliver on JSX’s commitment to provide sustainable access to small communities and large cities alike,” says JP Stewart, Electra’s Vice President and General Manager.

“As the nation’s most experienced Part 380 operator, JSX provides a “hop-on” regional air service that is reminiscent of a time where flying was an enjoyable experience with large seats, friendly service, frequent direct flights, and low friction.”

Jeremy Caussade, President and Co-Founder of Aura Aero, said, “Aura Aero is very proud to have been selected by JSX, one of the U.S.’s key supporters of regional network development.”

“Era, our low-carbon aircraft, provides the performance required for JSX to bring air connectivity to more local communities. This agreement marks a new step in our development in the USA; we are thrilled by this new, exciting challenge!”

Simon Newitt, President and Chief Commercial Officer at Heart Aerospace., said, “We’re really excited to be part of JSX’s commitment toward sustainable regional air travel.”

“The ES-30, with its competitive economics and green credentials, fits very well with JSX’s vision, and we see not only the opportunity to reconnect many regional routes lost over the years, but also open many more new ones. We believe this transformation will be good for the consumer and good for the economy, as well as for the environment.”

Expanding Small Community Access to Safe, Sustainable Flight Options

The favorable operating economics of the Aura Aero Era, Heart ES-30, and Electra eSTOL can create thousands of new and expanded air travel options across the United States without the need for government subsidy.

Small communities like Del Rio, TX, which lost all commercial air service since the COVID-19 pandemic, is one example of many locales that stand to be reconnected to major cities in a sustainable, cost-effective way.

For fifty years, Part 380 Public Charter regulations have enabled the innovation and diversified air travel offerings that JSX proudly provides today. Moreover, JSX is well-prepared to handle the complexities of bringing these new aircraft to new markets.

It boasts expert small aircraft maintenance and operating standards that have earned the company continuous accolades from across the aviation industry and routinely passes stringent industry safety audits with flying colors.

JSX continues to receive high praise from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for its investments in industry-leading safety and security measures.

Having vetted dozens of environmentally-conscious airplane proposals over the past several years, JSX stands firm in its support of and belief in manufacturers Electra, Aura Aero, and Heart Aerospace, who have identified the natural first frontier for scalable low-carbon aviation: using small, fixed-wing regional aircraft that fit within both existing infrastructure and time-tested regulatory parameters, but with dramatically lower operating costs and emissions.

JSX plans to roll out these new aircraft as early as 2028, offering point-to-point mobility on state-of-the-art hybrid-electric aircraft in an exciting step forward for regional air travel.

JSX currently operates 48 Embraer E145 family aircraft, each configured to offer 30 seats, and employs over 1,200 crewmembers.

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