The Efficiency of a Turboprop, the Performance of a Jet: Meet Maeve’s M80

Maeve Aerospace’s M80 concept takes the best of both worlds, turboprop and regional jet, in a bid to decarbonize without sacrificing speed, cost, comfort, or efficiency.

Jack Daleo

Monday, December 11, 2023 at 02:37 PM ET

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A digital rendering of Maeve Aerospace’s concept for an 80-seat, hybrid-electric regional aircraft. [Courtesy: Maeve Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

Maeve Aerospace is developing the M80, an 80-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner designed to combine jet performance (speed, altitude) with turboprop efficiency.
The M80 is projected to significantly reduce fuel burn and operating costs, cutting emissions by over 40% (with potential for near-zero using Power-to-Liquid fuel) through its optimized airframe and unique hybrid propulsion system.
Expected to debut in 2031, the aircraft features a self-charging battery system during descent, enabling seamless integration with existing airport infrastructure and targeting the replacement of current regional jets and turboprops.

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What if one aircraft could fuse the performance of a jet with the economics and efficiency of a turboprop, all while reducing carbon emissions to near zero? It sounds like a fantasy. But there’s one already in development—and it’s a hybrid-electric, 80-seat regional airliner.

The aircraft is called the M80, and the company behind it is Dutch manufacturer Maeve Aerospace, which on Monday spilled the details on its latest design. Geared for regional, 800 nm routes, the M80 is claimed to burn less fuel than a regional jet, cost less per seat-mile than a turboprop, and reduce emissions more than both. It’s expected to debut in 2031.