Start-up secures electric planes for WA network

Michael Bennet

05 February 2022

Archived

6 min

PME All levels

BLUF

Western Australia looks set to welcome clean, green flying machines to its skies.

Summary

A Perth-based start-up plans to have flying taxis in the air within five years. FlyOnE revealed it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Dutch manufacturer ELECTRON Aerospace for 28 electric five-seater aircraft. Key points:

The first delivery is expected in 2026.
FlyOnE plans to offer charter flights and hopes to be operating all aircraft on a new zero-emissions aviation network across Western Australia.
The state’s large mining industry is seen as a key potential customer.
FlyOnE says a national expansion could follow.
The ‘Electron 5’ electric planes retail for around $1.6 million and can fly 750 kilometres on a single charge.
The company says its service will be more of an ‘on-demand, almost chauffeur-style air service’ than a commercial airline.
Pricing for the charter flights hasn’t yet been decided.
Given the lower operating costs of small electric planes and their green credentials, they are likely to be the way of the future.
The company believes WA is the ideal place to launch the business due to demand from the mining sector, claiming Perth made up more than a third of all non-scheduled air traffic in 2019.
FlyOnE Chief executive Korum Ellis said the growing green energy sector should provide opportunities to offer re-charging facilities for small electric planes.