Afrijet and AURA AERO, French aircraft manufacturer and pioneer in low-carbon aviation, have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding at Paris Air Show regarding ERA, the electric-thrust Executive regional aircraft.

Afrijet, a private airline based in Gabon, is the number one airline in the CEMAC area (Economic Community of Central African States). The airline operates regular routes between Gabon, the Democratic republic of Congo, Benin and Equatorial Guinea.

“Afrijet is very much involved in aviation decarbonization projects, and ERA is for us the most plausible and mature solution. We are very happy to be associated as from now in its definition”, says Marc GAFFAJOLI, CEO of Afrijet.

ERA is a brand new eco-responsible aircraft. Concentrating many avionic, aerodynamic and propelling innovations, it is the solution to the decarbonization of regional aviation. It is an exceptionally versatile aircraft: capable of transporting 19 passengers or 1.9 tons of freight, it can also be adapted for business aviation with an 8 or 9 pax configuration. With its pressurized cabin and offering an unrivalled level of passenger comfort on this type of aircraft, it has a range of up to 1,600 km and can land in the biggest international airports as well as on short, unprepared runways.

ERA, whose first entries into commercial service are planned before 2030, already boasts an orderbook of over 300 Aircraft under Letters of Intent. Whether it is for connecting islands or providing direct flights between regional towns, ERA is an economic solution for its users, in terms of both energy and maintenance costs. This aircraft already addresses the environmental challenges of the 21st century, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to thermal aircraft in the same category.

For Jérémy CAUSSADE, President and co-founder of AURA AERO: ”We are very proud to have been chosen by Afrijet to decarbonize their operations and bring a sustainable solution to regional aviation in Africa”. He adds: “At AURA AERO, we are convinced that electric is the future of regional aviation, and we are just at the beginning of this revolution!”.