Boeing-Backed Regional Plane Goes Public With 450 Pre-Orders

EVIO has unveiled the product of more than eight years of rigorous development: the EVIO 810 hybrid-electric regional aircraft… and a lengthy list of customers to go with it. The Montreal-based company has secured conditional agreements and options for 450 airplanes, setting the stage for an entry into service in the early 2030s.

The clean-sheet design is backed by investment from Boeing and supported technically by Pratt & Whitney Canada. It comes as arguably one of the most promising yet unexpected hybrid-electric launches the regional market has ever seen.

“From day one, our focus has been on increasing profitability for regional operators and providing an exceptional passenger experience,” said EVIO CEO Michael Derman. “We’ve recognized early on that a strong-hybrid architecture can provide unmatched efficiencies for airlines, helping them sustain vibrant regional networks in a cost-effective, responsible way.”

The first wave of interest came back in 2023, when two major airlines signed for 250 aircraft with options for 200 more. EVIO says that momentum has continued as the 810’s design entered later stages, and with the current state of regional air travel, it seems demand will remain on their side.

The company reports that more than 5,000 regional aircraft are expected to reach retirement age in the next two decades, and that the 50-100 seat market will need upwards of 7,500 replacements. The industry has felt the effects of that gap, as roughly 2,650 regional jets and turboprops have been retired in the last five years despite only 750 new ones entering service. This represents the global fleet shrinking by more than a quarter.

Pratt & Whitney Canada is now partnering with EVIO on propulsion development, planning to lean on the PT6 family’s reliability and its own integration experience to support the hybrid powerplant. Boeing is also lending a hand to boost the Canadian aerospace sector and push overall next-gen regional technology into the limelight.

EVIO is supported internally by figures with deep aircraft-development backgrounds, including former Lockheed Martin Skunk Works head Frank Cappuccio and former Airbus executive Rob Dewar, who is known for shepherding the CSeries/A220 program.

“EVIO’s new hybrid-electric aircraft development and partnership with Canadian industry is an example of the promising innovation in the country’s aerospace sector,” added Boeing Canada President Al Meinzinger. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with EVIO as they advance this technology to deliver more energy-efficient regional air travel."

FMI: www.evio.aero