Can $400M Keep Aura Aero’s Hybrid-Electric Dreams Alive?

French manufacturer enjoyed a recent windfall but faces delays in testing and production.

Jack Daleo

Friday, April 17, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

France’s Aura Aero is developing the 19-seat, hybrid-electric Era regional airliner. [Credit: Aura Aero]

Key Takeaways:

Aura Aero's 19-seat hybrid-electric Era airliner program faces delays, with its first flight now targeted for 2027 (potentially 2028) and facility openings pushed back.
The company recently secured approximately $400 million in new funding and subsidies from investors and governments to advance its Era, Integral E (all-electric), and Enbata (drone) projects.
Despite the delays, Aura Aero reports strong market demand, with over 700 preorders for the Era and significant interest in its Integral aircraft family, particularly in the U.S. pilot training market.
Aura Aero is pursuing a dual industrial strategy with production facilities planned for France and Florida, while also exploring innovative financing models like usage-based payments for its aircraft.

See a mistake? Contact us.

French manufacturer Aura Aero is hoping that fresh funding will get its ambitions to launch a 19-seat, hybrid-electric regional airliner on track.

The manufacturer last week said it is now targeting 2027 for the first flight of its flagship Era, a slip from earlier predictions of late 2026. When asked about the test program by FLYING, Jérémy Caussade, co-founder and CEO of Aura, committed only to first flight in “less than two years”—meaning it could slip further to 2028. Late 2029 or early 2030 remains the certification target for the model.