Aerus, a new regional airline in Mexico, has conditionally agreed to purchase 30 Alice commuter airplanes from Washington state-based electric aircraft developer Eviation. The two companies announced on January 17 that they had signed a letter of intent covering the deal.

According to Eviation, Aerus aims to use the nine-seat, fully electric commuter airplane for “middle-mile” travel over areas of northern Mexico including Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Veracruz—regions that have been historically underserved by aviation.

“Our aircraft is an ideal fit for Aerus as a large number of flights in northern Mexico are already less than 250 miles,” said Eviation president and CEO Gregory Davis. “We are always pleased to receive the endorsement of forward-thinking airlines that are keen to address the climate challenge and be part of the future of aviation.”

Aerus is based in Monterrey, the capital of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. The airline was established in May of 2022 and expects to begin operations in the first quarter of this year. While initial routes will cover northeastern Mexico, the airline plans to introduce longer national and international flights. In addition to the 30 Eviation Alice aircraft, Aerus has ordered two Cessna 408 SkyCourier twin turboprops and four Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprop singles.

“As we enter into service, our objective is to create new opportunities for regional travel in Mexico that are environmentally and economically sustainable," said Javier Herrera García, CEO of Aerus. "Working with Eviation to bring a zero-emissions fleet to our region will transform the way we experience air travel and connect communities."

Eviation’s Alice became the world’s first fully electric commuter airplane to fly when it conducted a test flight over Moses Lake, Washington, in September 2022. The aircraft is initially expected to offer a range of about 250 nm on a single charge, although Eviation has said it expects the range to increase to 440 nm as new and improved battery technology becomes available. 

The Alice, which is expected to enter service in 2027, will be available in three models. In addition to the nine-seat commuter airplane, the company will offer a more luxurious “executive” version with six seats, as well as a cargo-carrying version that can transport up to 2,600 pounds of payload. 

Aerus is just the latest of a slew of customers that Eviation has attracted in the past year, and the company now has an order backlog exceeding $2 billion. Other buyers include the Australian airline and charter operator NTAS, German regional carrier Evia Aero, Massachusetts-based regional airline Cape Air, and Miami-based charter and cargo flight provider GlobalX.