Electra, the City of Helsinki and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences have signed a memorandum of understanding to study hybrid-electric passenger service between Helsinki and Tallinn using Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short aircraft. The partners will assess whether the roughly 80-kilometre Gulf of Finland route can support direct aviation with faster, quieter and potentially more efficient operations than current travel options.
The feasibility study is expected to run through the end of 2026 and will examine passenger demand, suitable departure and arrival points, operating economics, infrastructure needs and regulatory requirements. The project focuses on a short but time-sensitive cross-border market linking the Finnish and Estonian capitals, where journey times can still stretch to several hours depending on the mode and connections used.
No launch date, route approval or operating commitment has been set. The agreement places the parties in an evaluation phase, with the results likely to shape future decisions on commercial viability and any infrastructure or certification work needed for ultra-short regional flights.