FLYING Magazine
Hybrid-electric “ultra short” aircraft developer Electra in July partnered with FBO Signature Aviation to explore “access points” for its flagship EL9, which is designed for takeoff and landing with only 150 feet of ground roll. Now, the manufacturer is working with Finland’s capital to study the same infrastructure it plans to deploy across the U.S.
According to Electra, EL9 access points could be installed at nonairport locations, including rooftops, parking lots, fields, barges, malls, casinos, or ski resorts. Working with the city of Helsinki and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, the company plans to evaluate the design of that infrastructure as well as the potential spike in demand that the EL9 could create.
According to a market outlook Electra published in March, it estimates that the EL9 could cut travel times by one or more hours for over 2,600 routes that see at least 1,000 daily drivers and span 50 to 265 miles, but which lack reliable air service. The calculation includes flight time, average driving time to or from the access point at the origin and destination, waiting time, and ingress and egress.
Electra, the city, and the university aim to complete the study by the end of 2026.
Evolution of Aircraft Infrastructure?
Electra’s planned study will focus on the twin cities of Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia.
The cities sit about 80 kilometers apart, separated by the Gulf of Finland. Local officials are exploring ways to shorten trips by air or ferry, including with a proposed undersea tunnel.
Electra estimated that about 7.5 million people travel between the cities each year. But the Helsinki-Tallinn ferry route alone recorded about 7.3 million travelers in 2025, according to local newspaper The Baltic Times. The ferry trip takes about two hours.
Direct flights from Finnish flag carrier Finnair are in the sky for about 30 minutes, though total travel time is closer to that of the ferry due to the time it takes to travel through an airport. Estonia lacks a national airline, and AirBaltic, the Latvian flag carrier, does not offer direct Helsinki-Tallinn flights. AirBaltic flights typically stop over in Riga, the Latvian capital.
Electra believes these characteristics make the region ideal for studying off-airport access points that are closer to where people live and work. The company describes this concept as “direct aviation.”
Electra said it will study how the hybrid-electric EL9 and its associated infrastructure could enable faster and more efficient regional travel while also reducing noise. It plans to study access point design—including sizing and costs for candidate sites identified by the city of Helsinki—as well as operating economics and regulations.
Helsinki and Haaga-Helia University will further evaluate passenger demand by studying existing travel flows by air and ferry. The partners will look to determine whether direct aviation could drive stronger demand for the Helsinki-Tallinn route, as well as how that demand may vary by time of day, day of week, season, and ticket price.
Beyond the twin cities, Electra said the partners will look at “additional regional destinations of interest to Helsinki residents, businesses, and visitors.” The manufacturer said the activities will create a “roadmap” for establishing access points and offering an initial commercial service in the region.
In addition, Electra said the partners will “explore opportunities” for flight demonstrations with the company’s EL2 Goldfinch. The two-seat demonstrator, designed for the same 150-foot ground roll as the EL9, is already flying at airports in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Later this year, Electra aims to begin similar activities in New York, Florida, and Louisiana.
The company estimates that the EL9 will offer more than 2.5 times the payload, 10 times the range, and 70 percent lower operating costs versus helicopters or eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxis. It said Thursday that it has over 2,200 letters of intent to purchase aircraft from more than 60 commercial airlines and helicopter operators.