French aircraft developer AURA AERO announced on March 2, 2026, that it has received its first firm order for the ERA, a 19-seater hybrid-electric regional airliner. The order comes from Pan Européenne Air Service (PEAS), a French executive aviation operator based in Lyon (LYS) and Chambéry (CMF), marking the program’s first firm customer commitment.
PEAS, which operates a fleet of five Embraer aircraft including an EMB-135LR, EMB-145LR, Phenom 100E, Phenom 300, and Phenom 300E, will serve as the launch customer. In a press release, PEAS co-CEOs and owners Antoine Foessel and Clément Jacquot stated: ‘It was only natural that we chose this aircraft in order to be able to offer the first decarbonized air transport service in history.’
The ERA features a range of up to 900 miles (1,500 km) and a hybrid propulsion system with eight Safran ENGINeUS electric motors and two sustainable aviation fuel-compatible turbogenerators. It automatically switches between hybrid and electric modes by flight phase, aiming to cut carbon emissions by 80% versus thermal-powered equivalents.
Prior to this, AURA AERO had secured letters of intent for over 700 ERA aircraft from 16 operators worldwide, valued at $12 billion. Production is planned at a new facility next to AURA AERO’s site at Toulouse-Francazal Airport (QYF), with certification and entry into service targeted for 2030. Prototype testing is set to begin by late 2026, followed by first flight in 2027.