Alpine Air Express, a US-based regional air cargo carrier, and AURA AERO, the French aircraft manufacturer leading in low-carbon aviation, have signed a Letter of Intent for the purchase of up to 75 ERA hybrid-electric regional transport aircraft, which are set to launch before 2030.
Based in Provo, Utah, Alpine Air Express operates over 100 daily regional flights across the U.S., delivering freight and packages for major companies like UPS, Amazon, and the United States Postal Service, providing last-mile delivery solutions.
The ERA’s design includes a wide, fully-opening cargo door and a balanced volume and payload, offering significant benefits for regional air freight operators. It can reduce maintenance and energy costs by over 50% per ton of revenue cargo compared to older aircraft in the same category.
The ERA cargo aircraft represents a major advancement in the cargo market by integrating cutting-edge green technology with operational efficiency. As the aviation industry focuses on sustainability and cost-effectiveness, this freighter is expected to revolutionise the sector.
“Competitive advantages of ERA as a cargo aircraft with respect to traditional turboprops, include lower operating costs, optimised payload capacity for typical short haul freight and increased safety through state-of-the-art avionics and flight controls,” said Drew McEwen, Chief Commercial Officer of AURA AERO.
Following a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2023 between AURA AERO and Alpine—covering ERA’s FAA certification, operations, customer support, and tailored aircraft configuration—this Letter of Intent represents a significant expansion of AURA AERO’s market presence in the US, complementing their recent investment in Florida.
With more than 570 units on order, valued at up to $9 billion, ERA is scheduled to enter service before 2030.
Jérémy Caussade, CEO and co-founder of AURA AERO said, “We are delighted to be taking a further step forward in our collaboration with Alpine Air Express, which started last year. This order underscores the confidence in ERA’s ability to deliver not only in terms of environmental sustainability but also in operational cost savings and performance. We believe the ERA cargo aircraft will set a new standard in the cargo market.”
Alpine Air Express CEO, Michael Dancy said, “Some aircraft serving the regional cargo markets are expensive to maintain. Alpine is excited to utilise this next-generation technology to provide long term cost controls for its customers.”