17 / 06 / 2021

The future of electric aviation in the Kvarken region

The report, Electric regional aviation – a fast and clean transport mode for the needs of Kvarken region, from WSP has been published

The report, Electric regional aviation – a fast and clean transport mode for the needs of Kvarken region, from WSP has been published

This work is part of FAIR project that aims at early and efficient commercialization of electric regional flights in the Kvarken region. The goal of this report is to act as an information package of the possibilities and prerequisites of electric regional aviation. It is directed to national and regional decision makers and companies.

The fast development of aviation technologies makes future aviation more customer oriented, cost-efficient, and cleaner. Electric aviation is an essential part of the future of regional transport.

ELECTRIC REGIONAL AVIATION – A FAST AND CLEAN MODE OF TRANSPORT

Electric regional aviation is a new era transport mode which can be seen as a complimentary element between public and private transport. It is suitable for small passenger flows and can operate shorter distances profitably compared to traditional commercial aviation. Electric regional aviation will replace some transport modes in some trips but more often it will be part of new trip chains. The basic nature of aviation will be constant – aviation is aviation – but electric aviation will be clean and cost-effective. Regional aviation will provide new supply that has been earlier very limited.

ZERO EMISSION ALTERNATIVE

A very essential advantage of the electric regional aviation is its zero emissions during operations. Electric power in Nordic countries is produced mostly in a sustainable way. That is why the climate effect and emissions from regional flights will reduce significantly.

OPTIMAL FOR SMALL VOLUMES

Typical to electric regional aviation is its ability to serve rather small passenger flows, between 10 and 20 persons, in distances up to 400 km. It will be a solution to fill the gap between demand and supply caused by current volume-based business model in aviation. 

A TOOL FOR IMPROVING REGIONAL ACCESSIBILITY

Finland and Sweden both are countries of big surfaces and low population densities. Both also have strong export industry widely located in various parts of the countries, remarkably also in Kvarken area. That creates important needs to business travel, but the current supply of aviation is not providing sufficient service level to meet the demand. That is why electric regional aviation is needed. Now is a crucial time to develop new operating models in aviation. It is recommendable to develop new aviation business models immediately to fulfill the needs of smaller volumes by suitable aircrafts and to gradually move to electric aircrafts when they are entering to the markets. Read the report: Electric regional aviation – a fast and clean transport mode for the needs of Kvarken region

The working group consisted of Professor, Director Jorma Mäntynen, MSc (tech) Riku Huhta and Dr. (tech) Jarkko Rantala from WSP Finland and CEO Esa Korjula from Redstone Aero.

More information:

Källberg Peter, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, +358 (0)40 844 2058

Sandberg Jonne, City of Kokkola, +358 (0) 44 780 9093

Stig-Göran Forsman, Kiinteistö Oy Kruunupyyn lentohalli, +358 (0) 44 2361 459

Elisabet Kivimäki, Into Seinäjoki Oy (City of Seinäjoki’s development company) +358 (0) 40 760 3907

Jorma Mäntynen, Director, Professor, Business & Logistics, WSP Finland Oy, + 358 40 620 4583

Huhta Riku, Project Manager, M. Sc. (tech), Business & Logistics, WSP Finland Oy, +358 40 761 0243

Finansiär Interreg Botnia-Atlanticas logoyp
Finansiär Interreg Botnia-Atlanticas logoyp

FAIR (Finding innovations to Accelerate the Implementation of electric Regional aviation) is to be seen as a first step of preparing the Kvarken region for an early implementation of electric aviation. 

The project increases the knowledge base about electric aviation, investigates the possibilities and surveys both the needs and the required technical investments. The project is co-financed by Interreg Botnia-Atlantica.

www.flyfairkvarken.com