At the Paris Air Show, Safarilink Airlines and AURA AERO announced the signature of a Letter of Intent (LOI) for ERA, the hybrid-electric regional aircraft, in its 19-seater version. The agreement concerns 4 aircraft, plus 2 additional options.
Founded in 2004, Safarilink is Kenya’s premier safari airline. With a network of domestic scheduled services to top safari destinations within Kenya and into northern Tanzania, Safarilink also offers private charter flights. The airline operates 12 Cessna and DeHavilland aircraft, ranging from 13 to 52 seats, suited for bush airstrips in Kenya’s game parks.
“We are delighted to support Safarilink in their transition towards low-carbon aircraft. With ERA, they will benefit from a hybrid-electric aircraft, in terms of decarbonization and noise reduction, while upgrading to a new-generation plane with lower operational and maintenance costs,” comments Jérémy CAUSSADE, President and co-founder of AURA AERO.
ERA is a hybrid-electric, eco-responsible aircraft designed to revitalize regional aviation and support the decarbonization of air transport. Equipped with 8 electric motors (ENGINeUS by Safran, the first certified electric aircraft engine) and 2 SAF-compatible turbo-generators, it alternates between hybrid and electric modes based on flight requirements, with a range of up to 900 NM (1,666 km).
Able to carry 19 passengers or 1.9 tons of cargo, ERA is also configurable as a business jet or special mission aircraft. It is designed to operate from both large airports and short, unpaved runways.
