Will jets ever be electric?

Some companies are looking at jet aircraft powered by electricity. For example, Wright Electric is working on a 100-seat fully-electric regional jet that could take off starting in 2026. The Wright Spirit is a conversion of the BAe 146 regional jet, destined for one-hour flights.



Full-sized, long-haul commercial "jets" as we know them are unlikely to be purely electric in the near future due to the energy density of batteries, which is currently about 50 times lower than jet fuel. However, 2026 is a landmark year for regional electric aviation. Companies like Lilium and Eviation are flight-testing all-electric aircraft designed for short hops (under 500 km). These aren't "jets" in the traditional sense; they use electric motors to drive fans or propellers. For larger aircraft, the industry is pivoting toward hybrid-electric propulsion and Hydrogen fuel cells. Airbus is currently advancing its "ZEROe" project, aiming for a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035. While your 14-hour flight to Sydney will likely rely on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for decades, your 45-minute commuter flight between cities like Seattle and Vancouver could very well be "plug-in" by the end of this decade.

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The future of aviation lies in electric aircraft, but the road to zero emission flights is not without its challenges. One major roadblock has been the limitations of current battery technology.

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This morning, Scandinavian Airlines (more commonly known as SAS) opened bookings aboard its first electric planes—the 30-seat ES-30 model, developed in partnership with Heart Aerospace—which will take to the skies in 2028.

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Hybrid and all-electric planes
Experts believe hybrid and fully battery-powered planes, which offer less range than conventional aircraft, will begin to dominate the short-haul flight sector by 2030, becoming the go-to craft for flights under three hours.

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Disadvantages of Electric Airplanes Limited range: Electric airplanes have a limited range, typically around 124 miles on a single charge when fully loaded, due to the limited energy capacity of current batteries.

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Job Outlook
Overall employment of airline and commercial pilots is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 18,100 openings for airline and commercial pilots are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

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Cheaper flights Electric aircraft will require fewer parts, less maintenance and less fuel compared to traditional commercial aircraft. All of these factors will reduce the cost of your ticket and make short-haul and medium-haul flights easier for airlines to sell.

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First overnight flight On 8 July 2010, Solar Impulse 1 achieved the world's first manned 26-hour solar-powered flight. The airplane was flown by Borschberg, and took off at 06:51 Central European Summer Time (UTC+2) on 7 July from Payerne Air Base, Switzerland.

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In 2050, airports will be models of connected and integrated travel. They will be community hubs for city and regional links, and mass transit of many kinds, including high-speed rail, autonomous vehicles, hyperloop, air taxis, and so on.

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According to Drela, today's airplane builders actually favor a smaller, lighter, and therefore slower aircraft that peaks its fuel efficiency at slower speeds. (Cars also become more efficient at slower speeds on highways.)

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