On 2 March 2026, AURA AERO officially signed the first order for its ERA hybrid-electric regional aircraft. The lucky buyer, Pan European Air Service (PEAS), becomes the first customer to make a contractual commitment for this 19-seater aircraft designed to decarbonise regional aviation. With nearly 700 order intents, valued at $12 billion, ERA has reached a significant milestone.
ERA: an aircraft designed to revive regional aviation
In the same press release, ERA is presented as a lever for transforming regional air transport. This flying machine is based on a hybrid architecture.
The aircraft will be equipped with 8 ENGINEUS electric motors developed by Safran and 2 SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) compatible turbogenerators. This configuration enables the aircraft to alternate automatically between electric and hybrid phases depending on the flight profile. The announced range is 900 nautical miles (around 1,500 kilometres), covering a large part of intra-European routes.
According to the manufacturer, the ERA could reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared with combustion-powered aircraft in the same category. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, the aircraft also aims to revitalise a weakened segment: regional routes.
Versatility at the heart of the business model
The ERA is not just positioned as a conventional regional aircraft. It can be configured for passenger transport, business aviation and light freight, as well as critical operations and emergency response.
This modularity broadens the field of application and enables the manufacturer to address a wider range of operators than just the traditional regional companies.
Pan-European, first committed operator
The press release highlights AURA AERO as the first buyer. Based in Chambéry and Lyon, Pan Européenne Air Service currently operates five Embraer aircraft (from 5 to 49 seats) and serves up to 500 destinations in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
The company has been supporting the ERA programme since its inception. It recently took part in electric flight tests with INTEGRAL E, another AURA AERO programme.
In the press release, Antoine Foessel and Clément Jacquot, co-directors and owners of Pan Européenne, explain:
« AURA AERO’s ambition and values are perfectly aligned with our vision of tomorrow’s aviation. The technological and industrial choices made in the design and production of the ERA since the company was founded have always proved to be extremely relevant, and it is only natural that we should have chosen this aircraft in order to be able to offer the first carbon-free air transport in history.
As well as enjoying a state-of-the-art, ethically responsible aircraft, the objective is clear: to become one of the first airlines in the world to operate a hybrid-electric aircraft with fare-paying passengers.
A strategic turning point for AURA AERO
For AURA AERO, this order is more than just a commercial opportunity. Together, they seem to be working hand in hand to drive forward the French and global aeronautics industry.
Jérémy Caussade, chairman and co-founder of the manufacturer, stresses in the press release:
« Pan Européenne is much more than a launch customer; it is a trusted partner that has been with us since the start of the ERA programme. We are very proud to count on the commitment of a company that chooses to support a French manufacturer, because we share the same values and the same vision. »
A regulatory environment favourable to hybridisation
And this sale is taking place against a backdrop of increasing regulatory pressure on European air transport in 2026.
Indeed, the sector accounts for around 2-3% of global CO₂ emissions, and European mechanisms such as the extension of the EU ETS or the Fit for 55 target are pushing operators to speed up their transition.
In this context, regional aviation appears to be a realistic area for experimentation:
- shorter distances,
- more controlled energy needs,
- infrastructures that can be adapted more quickly than for long-haul flights.
An industrial equation yet to be demonstrated
While this first firm order marks a major symbolic milestone, a number of unknowns remain. The ERA programme still has to pass the crucial certification stage, a long and demanding process for an aircraft incorporating a hybrid-electric architecture unprecedented on this scale.
The industrial timetable will also be decisive. AURA AERO is aiming for entry into service by 2028-2029, but whether this trajectory is met will depend as much on regulatory approvals as on the industrial ramp-up.
Another major challenge is controlling costs and the supply chain. The integration of eight electric motors, complex hybrid systems and sustainable fuels requires efficient and intelligent industrial coordination.
From prototype to market
Signing with Pan Européenne does not in itself guarantee the industrial success of ERA, but it does mark a change in status: the programme is moving from a dynamic of innovation to one of commercial realisation.
If the aircraft lives up to its promise in terms of performance, emissions reduction and operating costs, it could open up a new path for European regional aviation.
