MINTAir, an advanced air mobility company based in South Korea, has signed a Letter of Intent with Electra.aero, Inc. to purchase Electra’s hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. Under the agreement, MintAir will add 50 eSTOL aircraft to its fleet, launching regional air mobility operations for passengers and air cargo in South Korea.
According to a company press release:
“MintAir’s service will initially cover existing domestic routes and leverage regional airports, later expanding to new infrastructure made accessible by Electra’s ultra-short takeoff and landing capability. For example, MintAir engaged Seongnam-si, a satellite city of Seoul, as a new AAM hub to provide regional air service directly from a major metropolitan population centre, saving travelers valuable time by avoiding long drives to and transit times through major airports. Located in Gyeonggi Province near the Han River, a mere 26 km from the Gangnam district of Seoul, Seongnam City is a bright, vibrant metropolis nicknamed Korean Silicon Valley thanks to the concentration of Korean tech giants such as Naver, Kakao, KT as well as startup companies.”
“Our mission is to develop the safest Advanced Air Mobility service in both urban and regional routes contributing to decarbonization of the aviation industry,” noted Eugene Choi, CEO of MintAir. “We selected Electra’s eSTOL because of its superior safety, the energy-saving lift efficiency of its blown-lift technology, lower operating costs, and the clear path to certification as a fixed-wing aircraft.”
Electra’s eSTOL aircraft “can operate from spaces as small as 300×100 feet (90 x 30m),” said the release. “The quiet low-emissions aircraft is currently being designed to transport up to 1,800 pounds (816kg) of cargo or move 9 passengers up to 500 miles (800 km). Electra’s customers span worldwide AAM providers with operations ranging from urban and regional air mobility to VIP and charter flights, cargo logistics, medical services, and more.”
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(Image: MINTAir)