Mexican regional carrier Aerus has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the purchase of 30 all-electric “Alice” commuter aircraft, manufacturer Eviation Aircraft announced Tuesday.
According to Eviation, “Aerus intends to utilize Alice for middle-mile travel across regions including Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Veracruz. They [plan to] provide historically underserved communities in northern areas of the country with access to carbon-free, cost-effective, and convenient air travel.”
Eviation notes the announcement of the LOI came on the heels of a U.S. presidential visit to Mexico.
“Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Mexico, where he and his counterpart, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, highlighted the economic opportunities created by the clean energy transition,” Eddie Jaisaree, vice president of commercial sales at Eviation, said in a statement. “The introduction of Alice is certainly one of those opportunities. The aircraft offers a more enjoyable flight experience, lower operating costs, and meets the demand for zero-carbon technology that we are seeing from governments, regulators, and the public. We are very pleased to receive this order from Aerus.”
According to Aerus, the airline begins commercial operations this year. The company is committed to sustainable and carbon-free technology, it said. Aerus will utilize Monterrey International Airport (MMMY) as its regional hub, offering an expanded flight schedule and covering routes that no other airlines currently operate. By introducing electric aircraft into its fleet, Aerus aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2033.
“As we enter into service, our objective is to create new opportunities for regional travel in Mexico that are environmentally and economically sustainable,” noted Javier Herrera García, CEO of Aerus. “Working with Eviation to bring a zero-emissions fleet to our region will transform the way we experience air travel and connect communities like never before.”
Gregory Davis, president and CEO at Eviation, predicts Alice will revolutionize short point-to-point air travel. “Our aircraft is an ideal fit for Aerus as a large number of flights in northern Mexico are already less than 250 miles,” he says. “We are always pleased to receive the endorsement of forward-thinking airlines that are keen to address the climate challenge and be part of the future of aviation.”
Alice is one of the first flight-tested all-electric commuter aircraft. The nine-place aircraft was built from a clean-sheet design. Alice is powered by two magni650 electric propulsion units developed by magniX, an OEM specializing in flight-proven electric propulsion systems. According to Eviation, Alice produces no emissions when operated using clean energy sources and is projected to cost significantly less to operate per flight hour compared to light jets or high-end turboprops.
Eviation Aircraft Inc. is based in Arlington, Washington, north of Seattle. Eviation Aircraft develops and manufactures electric aircraft.
Aerus is a Mexican regional airline based in Monterrey City, beginning operations in the first quarter of 2023. Aerus’ initial focus is on domestic routes in the north of the country, where it hopes to support the tourist industry and contribute to economic development.
By 2030, Aerus plans to cover the whole of Mexico with regional domestic flights and offer a variety of international routes.
