Short to medium haul flights comprise the lions share of US aviation – and there are a number of smaller, regional airports that are underserved because they are uneconomical.
But if you can drop the price per passenger by 40 percent, then that might change the math and open up a much larger market.
Gemini says:
Short-Haul (Under 500 miles): Comprises 27.7% to 28.6% of total flights. Within this category, “ultra-short-haul” flights—those spanning less than 311 statute miles (500 km)—make up 21% of all departures.
Medium-Haul (500 to 1,200 miles): The largest segment of the domestic network, representing 49.9% to 51.0% of flights.
A 25,000 pound (11,340 kilogram) aircraft recently took off on its maiden flight, running entirely on battery power that used up just $5 worth of electricity.
Heart Aerospace announced the successful first flight of the company’s X1 aircraft, which is equipped with four electric motors that draw their energy from onboard batteries. The flight was designed to test the electric propulsion system, with Heart Aerospace hoping to use its prototype aircraft to develop a 30-seat hybrid model designed to service regional airports.
The battery-electric aircraft took off from Plattsburgh International Airport in Upstate New York on August 12 and flew for 27 minutes. It reached an altitude of 1,100 feet, consuming more than a megawatt of power in the process.
With a 106-foot wingspan, X1 became the largest battery-electric plane ever flown. The entire flight, including takeoff, maneuvering, and landing, used up approximately $5 worth of electricity, according to a statement from Heart Aerospace.
The recent test of the battery-powered plane comes at a time when global prices for jet fuel have seen a significant surge due to the U.S. war with Iran. The cost of jet fuel has increased from about $2.50 per gallon on average before the war began to an average of $3.50 per gallon earlier this month.
The recent surge has forced airlines to raise ticket prices and add fuel subcharges, and this is where Heart Aerospace hopes its electric propulsion system can come in, offering “more affordable, frequent, and cleaner air service to and from airports closer to home,” Forslund said.