Loganair exploring use of hybrid-electric aircraft

Scottish airline Loganair is looking at how hybrid-electric aircraft might be used on its routes in the future.

The Glasgow-based company, which operates across the UK, is working with aircraft manufacturer Heart Aerospace on the project.

The Swedish firm is developing a hybrid-electric plane, ES-30, which has a capacity to carry 30 passengers.

Heart Aerospace said the aircraft would have a fully electric zero-emissions range of 124 miles (200km).

Loganair is the UK's largest regional airline and its routes include lifeline services connecting Scottish islands to the mainland.

Chief executive Luke Farajallah said the new partnership was "exciting and significant".

He said: "We definitely see the ES-30 as being a strong contender to emerge as one of the leaders in this space."

The project is one of a number of initiatives aimed at decarbonising aviation.

Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (Hitrans) has been looking at the use of large electric aircraft called Airlanders for carrying passengers and freight on Scottish regional routes.

Full-scale production of the part-plane, part-airship could begin by the end of this decade, and there is a plan to reserve six of the first aircraft manufactured for use by Hitrans.

Scotland's first electric-powered aircraft took to the skies in 2021 from a test centre in Orkney.

One of the twin engines in Ampaire's six-seater Cessna Skymaster was been replaced with an electric motor.